- Good start to the year benefitting from a balanced business portfolio
- Revenues up 8 percent driven by strong growth in Oilfield Services
- Dividend increased by 10 percent
- GAAP EPS of $1.33 and adjusted non-GAAP EPS of $1.38
According to the company’s website press release on May 3, 2023, Innospec Inc. (NASDAQ: IOSP) announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The Company also announced the declaration of its semi-annual dividend of 69 cents per common share for the first half of 2023, representing an increase of 10 percent. This dividend will be paid on May 31, 2023 to shareholders of record on May 22, 2023.
Total revenues for the first quarter were $509.6 million, an increase of 8 percent from $472.4 million in the corresponding period last year. Net income for the quarter was $33.2 million or $1.33 per diluted share compared to $36.5 million or $1.46 cents per diluted share recorded last year. EBITDA for the quarter was $53.9 million compared to $59.0 million reported in the same period a year ago.
Results for this quarter include some special items, which are summarized in the table below. Excluding these items, adjusted non-GAAP EPS in the first quarter was $1.38 per diluted share, compared to $1.53 per diluted share a year ago.
Cash generation was broadly neutral for the quarter with cash from operating activities of $21.8 million before capital expenditures of $17.7 million and internally developed ERP software costs of $4.3 million. The quarter closed with net cash of $147.5 million.
Commenting on the first quarter results, Patrick S. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “This was a good start to the year for Innospec. We again benefited from our balanced business portfolio as the short-term negative impact of volume and margin headwinds in Performance Chemicals was partially offset by growth and margin expansion in Oilfield Services.
In Performance Chemicals, as predicted, destocking and weaker demand negatively impacted volumes and margins in the quarter. This business has been affected the most by near-term economic uncertainty as customers exhibit cautious and conservative order patterns. While we believe these conditions will continue in the short-term, we expect sequential volume and margin improvement in the coming quarters. In addition, new personal care contracts are scheduled to begin in the third quarter which we believe will support continued growth, as our focus remains on recovering to 2022 operating income run rates, in the second half of this year.
In Fuel Specialties, gross margins improved sequentially from last quarter towards our targeted 32 to 35 percent range. Continued price action, strong sales mix and slowing inflation all contributed to sequential gross margin improvement dampened by a $7.4 million inventory misappropriation in Brazil. Through the balance of 2023, we expect gross margins to recover to the lower end of our target range, as the global business team continues to focus on a variety of margin improvement actions and opportunities.
In Oilfield Services, strength in production chemicals and further sequential improvements in our other segments drove excellent results in the quarter. We continue to pursue topline and margin expansion opportunities across the business, and we feel optimistic that we can deliver full year operating income growth in 2023.”
In Performance Chemicals, revenues of $151.4 million were down 9 percent from $167.1 million in the first quarter last year. A positive price/mix of 6 percent was offset by a volume decline of 13 percent and an adverse currency impact of 2 percent. Gross margins reduced by 8.5 percentage points from the same quarter last year, to 15.9 percent. Operating income for the quarter of $10.4 million decreased 59 percent on the prior year.
Revenues in Fuel Specialties of $190.3 million for the quarter were down slightly from $191.8 million a year ago. A 20 percent reduction in volume and an adverse currency impact of 3 percent were partially offset by a positive price/mix of 22 percent. Gross margins of 30.2 percent were 1.4 percentage points below last year. Operating income of $32.4 million was down from $35.5 million a year ago. Adjusting for the $7.4 million inventory issue in Brazil gross margins were 34.1 percent and operating income was $39.8 million.
Revenues in Oilfield Services were $167.9 million for the quarter, up 48 percent from $113.5 million in the first quarter last year. Gross margins improved by 6.2 percentage points from the same quarter last year to 39.5 percent. Operating income of $15.9 million was a $13.4 million increase over the $2.5 million in the prior year.
Corporate costs for the quarter were $17.7 million, compared with $19.0 million a year ago, due mainly to lower share-based compensation accruals.
The effective tax rate for the quarter was 26.2 percent compared to 24.3 percent in the same period last year.
For the quarter, net cash provided by operating activities was $21.8 million compared to net cash used in operating activities of $29.0 million a year ago. As of March 31, 2023, Innospec had $147.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt.
Mr. Williams concluded, “We are very pleased with our start to 2023 as operating income growth and margin expansion in Oilfield Services more than offset volume and margin headwinds in Performance Chemicals. The inventory issue in Fuel Specialties dampened what was otherwise a very strong quarter, and we are pursuing all legal options open to us.
Despite the potential for recession in the near term, we remain focused on technology development and margin improvement initiatives which will deliver organic growth over the medium to long-term across our diversified business portfolio.
Our outlook for technology and sustainability-driven organic growth opportunities remains strong in all businesses. With over $147 million in net cash, we feel that Innospec has the flexibility to fund organic opportunities, pursue complimentary M&A and continue dividend growth and share repurchases. This quarter our Board approved a further 10 percent increase in our semi-annual dividend to 69 cents per share continuing our record of returning value to shareholders.”
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The information presented in this press release includes financial measures that are not calculated or presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures comprise EBITDA, income before income taxes excluding special items, net income excluding special items and related per share amounts together with net cash. EBITDA is net income per our consolidated financial statements adjusted for the exclusion of charges for interest expense, net, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Income before income taxes, net income and diluted EPS, excluding special items, per our consolidated financial statements are adjusted for the exclusion of amortization of acquired intangible assets, foreign currency exchange gains, legacy costs of closed operations and adjustment of income tax provisions. Net cash is cash and cash equivalents less total debt. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided herein and in the schedules below. The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and may assist them in evaluating the Company’s underlying performance and identifying operating trends. In addition, these non-GAAP measures address questions the Company routinely receives from analysts and investors and the Company has determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors. While the Company believes that such measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s performance, investors should not consider them to be a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and do not provide a comparable view of the Company’s performance relative to other companies in similar industries. Management uses adjusted EPS (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP EPS) and adjusted net income and EBITDA (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP net income) to allocate resources and evaluate the performance of the Company’s operations. Management believes the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is GAAP net income and has provided a reconciliation of EBITDA and net income excluding special items, and related per share amounts, to GAAP net income herein and in the schedules below.
About Innospec Inc.
Innospec Inc. is an international specialty chemicals company with approximately 2,100 employees in 25 countries. Innospec manufactures and supplies a wide range of specialty chemicals to markets in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The Performance Chemicals business creates innovative technology-based solutions for our customers in the Personal Care, Home Care, Agrochemical, Mining and Industrial markets. The Fuel Specialties business specializes in manufacturing and supplying fuel additives that improve fuel efficiency, boost engine performance and reduce harmful emissions. Oilfield Services provides specialty chemicals to all elements of the oil and gas exploration and production industry.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements (covered by words like “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “may,” “could,” “believes,” “feels,” “plans,” “intends” or similar words or expressions, for example) which relate to earnings, growth potential, operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Although forward-looking statements are believed by management to be reasonable when made, they are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and our actual performance or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to Innospec and affecting our business operations and prospects are described in Innospec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are urged to review our discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements under the heading "Risk Factors” in such reports. Innospec undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Corbin Barnes Innospec Inc. +44-151-355-3611 corbin.barnes@innospecinc.com
