Unaudited pro forma information has been provided for comparative purposes only and the information does not necessarily reflect what the combined company's results of operations would have been had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of 2023. It also may not be useful in predicting the future results of operations of the combined company.
The Company completed another acquisition in 2024 that was not material to the consolidated financial statements.
Item 2. GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
The Company supplies technology and expertise for the management of fluids and coatings in both industrial and commercial applications. It designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid and coating materials. Management classifies the Company’s business into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Expansion Markets. Key strategies include developing and marketing new products, leveraging products and technologies into additional, growing end-user markets, expanding distribution globally and completing strategic acquisitions that provide additional channels and technologies.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis reviews significant factors affecting the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements.
Global Trade Uncertainty
Our operations, supply chain and financial performance are directly impacted by evolving global trade policies and tariffs as well as associated geopolitical tensions. Our global operating footprint and worldwide sales reach expose us to risks associated with trade conflicts between the U.S. and its trading partners. In 2024, approximately 46 percent of our sales were generated by customers located outside the U.S., with 6 percent of our sales generated by customers in China. Additionally, our materials sourced from China and used in our U.S. manufacturing operations approximated 6 percent of our costs of products sold in 2024. Escalating global trade conflicts could result in inflationary costs to manufacture, assemble and export our products. We may be required to increase prices to our customers, which may reduce demand, or if we do not or are unable to increase prices without reducing demand, we will experience reduced profitability. Continued geopolitical issues may cause customers outside of the U.S. seeking to source products from local suppliers. We continue to analyze the impact of these global tariffs on our business and we are working to mitigate the impact of tariffs through pricing and sourcing strategies. We cannot be sure these strategies will effectively mitigate the impact of these costs and if we are unable to do so or if demand for our products otherwise decreases, we expect these new tariffs will have a material impact on our results of operations in fiscal year 2025.
Consolidated Results
A summary of financial results follows (in millions except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | Mar 28, 2025 | | Mar 29, 2024 | | % Change | | |
Net Sales | $ | 528.3 | | | $ | 492.2 | | | 7 | % | | |
Operating Earnings | 144.0 | | | 133.0 | | | 8 | % | | |
| | | |
Net Earnings | 124.1 | | | 122.2 | | | 2 | % | | |
Net Earnings, adjusted (1) | 120.5 | | | 112.6 | | | 7 | % | | |
Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share | $ | 0.72 | | | $ | 0.71 | | | 1 | % | | |
Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share, adjusted (1) | $ | 0.70 | | | $ | 0.65 | | | 8 | % | | |
(1) See below for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP.
Net sales for the first quarter increased 7 percent from the comparable period last year. The effect of changes in currency translation rates reduced sales growth for the quarter by 2 percentage points. Sales from acquired operations contributed 6 percentage points of growth.
Operating expense leverage offset a lower gross margin rate resulting in an 8 percent increase in operating earnings for the first quarter from the comparable period last year.
Net earnings for the first quarter increased 2 percent compared to last year, as increased operating earnings and other income more than offset lower excess tax benefits from stock option exercises.
Excluding the impacts of excess tax benefits from stock option exercises presents a more consistent basis for comparison of financial results. A calculation of the non-GAAP adjusted measurements of income taxes, effective income tax rate, net earnings and diluted earnings per share follows (in millions except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| March 28, 2025 | | March 29, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
| | | |
| Earnings before income taxes | $ | 151.5 | | | $ | 140.3 | |
|
|
|
| | | |
| Income taxes, as reported | $ | 27.4 | | | $ | 18.1 | |
|
|
| Excess tax benefit from option exercises | 3.6 | | | 9.6 | |
| Income taxes, adjusted | $ | 31.0 | | | $ | 27.7 | |
| | | |
| Effective income tax rate | | | |
| As reported | 18.1 | % | | 12.9 | % |
| Adjusted | 20.5 | % | | 19.8 | % |
| | | |
| Net Earnings, as reported | $ | 124.1 | | | $ | 122.2 | |
|
|
| Excess tax benefit from option exercises | (3.6) | | | (9.6) | |
| Net Earnings, adjusted | $ | 120.5 | | | $ | 112.6 | |
| | | |
| Weighted Average Diluted Shares | 171.6 | | | 172.4 | |
| Diluted Earnings per Share | | | |
| As reported | $ | 0.72 | | | $ | 0.71 | |
| Adjusted | $ | 0.70 | | | $ | 0.65 | |
The following table presents an overview of components of net earnings as a percentage of net sales:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| March 28, 2025 | | March 29, 2024 |
| Net Sales | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % |
| Cost of products sold | 47.4 | | | 45.9 | |
| Gross Profit | 52.6 | | | 54.1 | |
| Product development | 3.7 | | | 4.4 | |
| Selling, marketing and distribution | 12.7 | | | 13.5 | |
| General and administrative | 8.9 | | | 9.1 | |
|
|
| Operating Earnings | 27.3 | | | 27.1 | |
| Interest expense | 0.1 | | | 0.2 | |
|
| Other (income) expense, net | (1.5) | | | (1.6) | |
| Earnings Before Income Taxes | 28.7 | | | 28.5 | |
| Income taxes | 5.2 | | | 3.7 | |
| Net Earnings | 23.5 | % | | 24.8 | % |
Net Sales
The following table presents net sales by geographic region (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
Americas(1) | $ | 323.2 | | | $ | 306.5 | |
EMEA(2) | 121.0 | | | 111.1 | |
| Asia Pacific | 84.1 | | | 74.6 | |
| Consolidated | $ | 528.3 | | | $ | 492.2 | |
(1) North, South and Central America, including the United States
(2) Europe, Middle East and Africa
The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Volume and Price | | Acquisitions | | Currency | | Total |
| Americas | 3% | | 3% | | (1)% | | 5% |
| EMEA | (1)% | | 13% | | (3)% | | 9% |
| Asia Pacific | 6% | | 10% | | (3)% | | 13% |
| Consolidated | 3% | | 6% | | (2)% | | 7% |
Gross Profit
The gross profit margin rate declined approximately 2 percentage points for the first quarter from the comparable period last year due to the unfavorable effects of lower margin rates from acquired operations and higher product costs.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for the quarter were flat compared to last year, including approximately $10 million (7 percentage points) of incremental expenses from acquired operations, which were offset by lower product development spending and unallocated corporate expense (primarily driven by lower share-based compensation).
Other (Income) Expense
Other income for the first quarter included a $5 million gain from the sale of a former manufacturing and distribution facility in Switzerland. Excluding the facility sale, other income decreased $5 million for the quarter from the comparable period last year mostly due to $3 million of incremental exchange losses on net assets of foreign operations and lower interest income of $1 million.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 18 percent for the first quarter, up approximately 5 percentage points from the comparable period last year. The increase was due primarily to a decrease in excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises.
Segment Results
Certain measurements of segment operations compared to last year are summarized below:
Contractor Segment
The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Contractor segment
(dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
Net Sales | | | |
Americas | $ | 175.9 | | | $ | 165.5 | |
EMEA | 54.5 | | | 46.4 | |
Asia Pacific | 24.6 | | | 18.1 | |
Total | $ | 255.0 | | | $ | 230.0 | |
Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales | 24 | % | | 29 | % |
The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Contractor segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Volume and Price | | Acquisitions | | Currency | | Total |
| Americas | 1% | | 6% | | (1)% | | 6% |
| EMEA | (9)% | | 30% | | (4)% | | 17% |
| Asia Pacific | 1% | | 40% | | (6)% | | 35% |
| Segment Total | (1)% | | 13% | | (1)% | | 11% |
Contractor segment sales growth for the first quarter included $30 million from acquired operations. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased 5 percentage points compared to the same period last year, including 3 percentage points from the unfavorable effects of lower margin rates of acquired operations, 1 percentage point from adverse impacts of currency translation and 1 percentage point related to price-cost dynamics.
Industrial Segment
The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Industrial segment
(dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
Net Sales | | | |
Americas | $ | 121.2 | | | $ | 117.2 | |
EMEA | 59.4 | | | 57.8 | |
Asia Pacific | 51.1 | | | 49.9 | |
Total | $ | 231.7 | | | $ | 224.9 | |
Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales | 34 | % | | 33 | % |
The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Industrial segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Volume and Price | | Acquisitions | | Currency | | Total |
| Americas | 5% | | 0% | | (2)% | | 3% |
| EMEA | 5% | | 0% | | (2)% | | 3% |
| Asia Pacific | 5% | | 0% | | (3)% | | 2% |
| Segment Total | 5% | | 0% | | (2)% | | 3% |
Industrial segment sales increased in all regions for the first quarter compared to the same period last year. The operating margin rate increased 1 percentage point as improved sales volume and lower expenses offset the adverse impacts of currency translation.
Expansion Markets Segment
The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Expansion Markets segment (dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
Net Sales | | | |
Americas | $ | 26.0 | | | $ | 23.9 | |
EMEA | 7.1 | | | 6.8 | |
Asia Pacific | 8.5 | | | 6.6 | |
Total | $ | 41.6 | | | $ | 37.3 | |
Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales | 24 | % | | 18 | % |
The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Expansion Markets segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Volume and Price | | Acquisitions | | Currency | | Total |
| Americas | 9% | | 0% | | 0% | | 9% |
| EMEA | 5% | | 0% | | (1)% | | 4% |
| Asia Pacific | 29% | | 0% | | 0% | | 29% |
| Segment Total | 12% | | 0% | | 0% | | 12% |
The semiconductor product application drove double-digit sales growth in the Expansion Markets segment for the first quarter compared to last year. The operating margin rate for this segment increased 6 percentage points for the quarter from the comparable period last year due to increased sales volume and lower expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operating activities of $125 million in the first quarter of 2025 increased $6 million compared to the first three months of last year, driven by lower performance-based incentive payouts in 2025. Increases in accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable reflect acquired operations and growth in business activity in the first quarter of 2025. Significant uses of cash in the first quarter of 2025 included share repurchases of $238 million (partially offset by $28 million of net proceeds from shares issued) and dividend payments of $47 million.
For the first three months of 2024, significant uses of cash included plant and equipment additions of $37 million and dividend payments of $43 million. Net proceeds from shares issued totaled $41 million.
As of March 28, 2025, the Company had available liquidity of $1,322 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $536 million, of which $178 million was held outside of the U.S., and available credit under existing committed credit facilities of $786 million.
Cash balances and unused financing sources are expected to provide the Company with the flexibility to meet its liquidity needs for the next 12 months and beyond, including its capital expenditure plan, planned dividends, share repurchases, acquisitions and operating requirements. Capital expenditures for 2025 are expected to be approximately $50 to $60 million. The Company may make opportunistic share repurchases going forward.
Outlook
We are actively working to mitigate the impact of changes in tariff policies, particularly those affecting our business in China. We are maintaining our full year revenue guidance of low-single digit growth on an organic constant currency basis. Evolving trade policies and tariffs with China have created economic uncertainty that could negatively impact our full-year revenue guidance by approximately 1% to 2%. We are closely monitoring developments and will adjust our strategy if necessary. Despite these near-term challenges, the Company remains strongly positioned for long-term success as we continue to execute our proven growth strategies and invest in our business.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions regarding forward-looking statements of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is filing this Cautionary Statement in order to do so. From time to time various forms filed by our Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks, and other disclosures, including our 2024 Overview report, press releases, earnings releases, analyst briefings, conference calls and other written documents or oral statements released by our Company, may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally use words such as “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “should,” “estimate,” “will,” and similar expressions, and reflect our Company’s expectations concerning the future. All forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon currently available information, but various risks and uncertainties may cause our Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of new information or future events.
Future results could differ materially from those expressed, due to the impact of changes in various factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the demand for our products and the level of commercial and industrial activity worldwide; changes in currency translation rates; international and domestic instability; interest rate fluctuations and changes in credit markets; global sourcing of materials; interruptions of or intrusions into our information systems; intellectual property rights; the use of generative artificial intelligence; conducting business internationally; catastrophic events; our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel; public health crises; our growth strategies and acquisitions; potential goodwill impairment; our ability to compete effectively; our dependence on a few large customers; our dependence on cyclical industries; changes in laws and regulations; climate-related laws, regulations and accords; environmental, social and governance-related expectations and requirements; compliance with anti-corruption and trade laws; changes in tax or tariff rates or the adoption of new tax or tariff legislation; and costs associated with legal proceedings. Please refer to Item 1A of our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Item 1A of this Form 10-Q for a more comprehensive discussion of these and other risk factors. These reports are available on the Company’s website at www.graco.com and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Investors should realize that factors other than those identified above and in Item 1A might prove important to the Company’s future results. It is not possible for management to identify each and every factor that may have an impact on the Company’s operations in the future as new factors can develop from time to time.
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There have been no material changes related to market risk from the disclosures made in the 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 4.Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
As of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in internal controls
During the quarter, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART IIOTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On December 7, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 18 million shares of common stock, primarily through open market transactions. The authorization is for an indefinite period of time or until terminated by the Board.
In addition to shares purchased under the Board authorization, the Company purchases shares of common stock held by employees who wish to tender owned shares to satisfy the exercise price or tax due upon exercise of options or vesting of restricted stock.
Information on issuer purchases of equity securities follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (at end of period) |
| December 28, 2024 - January 24, 2025 | | — | | | $ | — | | | — | | | 13,151,009 | |
| January 25, 2025 - February 21, 2025 | | 1,470,567 | | | $ | 85.17 | | | — | | | 11,679,442 | |
| February 22, 2025 - March 28, 2025 | | 1,327,169 | | | $ | 85.02 | | | — | | | 10,353,273 | |
Item 5.Other Information
During the three months ended March 28, 2025, of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) adopted, terminated or modified a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933).
Item 6.Exhibits
| | | | | | | | |
| 3.1 | | | |
| | |
| 3.2 | | | |
| | |
| | Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a). |
| | |
| | Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a). |
| | |
| | Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18, U.S.C. |
| | |
| | Press Release Reporting First Quarter Earnings dated April 23, 2025. |
| | |
| 101 | | | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language). |
| | |
| 104 | | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
| | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
GRACO INC.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Date: | | April 23, 2025 | | By: | | /s/ Mark W. Sheahan |
| | | | | | Mark W. Sheahan |
| | | | | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | | | (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | | |
| Date: | | April 23, 2025 | | By: | | /s/ David M. Lowe |
| | | | | | David M. Lowe |
| | | | | | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| | | | | | (Principal Financial Officer) |
| | | |
| Date: | | April 23, 2025 | | By: | | /s/ Christopher D. Knutson |
| | | | | | Christopher D. Knutson |
| | | | | | Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer |
| | | | | | (Principal Accounting Officer) |
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