Investor call scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (NYSE:ZWS)

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Net sales increased 5% to $357 million compared with $340 million in last year’s December quarter (+5% core sales⁽¹⁾).
• Net income from continuing operations was $14 million (diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.08) compared with net income from continuing operations of $10 million (diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.06) in the year-ago quarter.
• Adjusted diluted EPS⁽¹⁾ was $0.26 compared with $0.16 in the year-ago quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $84 million (23.6% of net sales) compared with $65 million (19.0% of net sales) in last year's fourth quarter.
• Net debt leverage⁽¹⁾ of 1.1x as of December 31, 2023.
• Deployed $25 million to repurchase 0.8 million shares of common stock in the quarter.
• Prepaid $60 million of our outstanding Term Loan.

Calendar Year 2023 Highlights

• Net sales were $1,531 million and increased by 19% from the comparable $1,282 million in calendar year 2022 (-1% core sales⁽¹⁾ inclusive of a 400 basis point impact from planned product line exits, +20% from acquisitions)
• Net income from continuing operations was $104 million (diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.59), compared with $57 million (diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.37) in calendar year 2022.
• Adjusted diluted EPS⁽¹⁾ was $0.97, compared with $0.94 in the prior calendar year.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $340 million (22.2% of net sales) compared with $265 million (20.6% of net sales) in calendar year 2022.
• Completed $125 million of common stock repurchases and paid $50 million in common stock dividends.
• Generated record free cash flow⁽¹⁾ of $233 million.

Todd A. Adams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zurn Elkay, commented, “2023 was a year focused on completing the integration of Elkay and capturing the related synergies while executing against our growth initiatives, with a priority on growing our clean drinking water platform. We are seeing the benefits of our efforts to build awareness around the need for clean filtered drinking water and targeted focus on K-12 schools and higher education pay off as our drinking water sales and orders both grew double-digits over the prior year. We also delivered on the $25 million of synergies we committed to as well as substantially completing the work to deliver another $25 million in 2024. We generated a record $233 million of free cash flow⁽¹⁾ and executed a balanced capital allocation strategy while ending the year with leverage at an all-time low."

Adams continued, "With respect to the fourth quarter, we had a strong finish to the year as we delivered sales, Adjusted EBITDA and margins above the expectations we communicated 90 days ago. Core sales⁽¹⁾ increased 5% year over year inclusive of a 400 basis point impact from product line exits. Excluding that impact, core sales⁽¹⁾ increased 9% from the prior year with growth across nearly all product categories as well as the benefit from the prior year fourth quarter comparable. Our adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 460 bps over the prior year fourth quarter as the improved commodity and transportation cost environment coupled with our cost synergies read through our results as we had previously communicated.”

"As we look ahead to 2024, we believe we are well positioned to drive superior results in a variety of end market scenarios given the momentum we are building in our clean drinking water platform as well as our other growth initiatives and the $25 million of additional cost synergies we expect to deliver in 2024. Our strong balance sheet provides us with capital allocation flexibility going forward and the ability to execute against our funnel of proprietary acquisition targets while remaining balanced with share repurchase and dividends."

"In the coming weeks you will see us release our 2023 sustainability report that highlights the progress we continue to make with respect to sustainability. We continue to make enhancements to our sustainability program and our pursuit of helping our customers protect the vital resource of clean water has never been stronger. In the upcoming report you will see expanded discussion around our role as stewards of water, progress towards the various goals we have set as well as initiating several new goals focused on the environment and our people. We are excited to continue to build on the momentum we have around sustainability in our company."

First Quarter and Full Year Outlook

“Based on demand trends as we exited the fourth quarter and the month of January, we believe net sales for the first quarter will be up low single digits on a proforma basis and adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ margin will be between 23.5% and 24.0%. As we look ahead to the full year we have confidence in our ability to drive growth and deliver approximately 150 bps of year over year adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. Additionally, we see our full year 2024 outlook for free cash flow⁽¹⁾ to be approximately $250 million."

Fourth Quarter 2023 Overview

Net sales were $356.8 million and $340.3 million during the three months ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, an increase of 5% year over year. Core sales⁽¹⁾ increased 5% year over year, inclusive of a 400 basis point impact from planned product line exits, driven by growth across nearly all of our product categories as well as the benefit from the prior year comparable that was impacted by channel partners reducing inventory levels.

During the three months ended December 31, 2023, income from operations was $32.8 million compared to income from operations of $19.8 million during the three months ended December 31, 2022. Income from operations as a percentage of net sales increased by 340 basis points year over year due to the benefits resulting from productivity synergies and restructuring actions related to the Elkay merger as well as lower material and transportation costs, partially offset by the loss on divestiture of asbestos liabilities and certain assets.

Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $84.1 million, or 23.6% of net sales, during the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to $64.6 million, or 19.0% of net sales, during the three months ended December 31, 2022.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following non-GAAP financial measures are utilized by management in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis. We believe that these financial measures are appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of our underlying operating performance trends compared to historical and prospective periods and our peers. Management also believes that these measures are useful to investors in their analysis of our results of operations and provide improved comparability between fiscal periods as well as insight into the compliance with our debt covenants. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures presented above to our GAAP results has been provided in the financial tables included in this press release.

Core Sales

Core sales excludes the impact of acquisitions (such as Elkay), divestitures and foreign currency translation. Management believes that core sales facilitates easier and more meaningful comparison of our net sales performance with prior and future periods and to our peers. We exclude the effect of acquisitions and divestitures because the nature, size and number of acquisitions and divestitures can vary dramatically from period to period and between us and our peers, and can also obscure underlying business trends and make comparisons of long-term performance difficult. We exclude the effect of foreign currency translation from this measure because the volatility of currency translation is not under management's control.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share

Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share (calculated on a diluted basis) exclude actuarial gains and losses on pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, restructuring and other similar charges, gains or losses on divestitures, discontinued operations, gains or losses on extinguishment of debt, the impact of acquisition-related fair value adjustments in connection with purchase accounting, amortization of intangible assets, the adjustment to state inventories at last-in first-out costs, and other non-operational, non-cash or non-recurring losses, net of their income tax impact. The tax rates used to calculate adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are based on a transaction specific basis. We believe that adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are useful in assessing our financial performance by excluding items that are not indicative of our core operating performance or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating our continuing results of operations.

EBITDA

EBITDA represents earnings from continuing operations before interest and other debt related activities, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because it is an important supplemental measure of performance and it is frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. EBITDA is also presented and compared by analysts and investors in evaluating our ability to meet debt service obligations. Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA differently. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net income as indicators of operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. Because EBITDA is calculated before recurring cash charges, including interest expense and taxes, and is not adjusted for capital expenditures or other recurring cash requirements of the business, it should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to invest in the growth of the business.

Adjusted EBITDA

“Adjusted EBITDA” is the term we use to describe EBITDA as defined and adjusted in our credit agreement, which is net income, adjusted for the items summarized in the Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures table below. Adjusted EBITDA is intended to show our unleveraged, pre-tax operating results and therefore reflects our financial performance based on operational factors, excluding non-operational, non-cash or non-recurring losses or gains. In view of our debt level, it is also provided to aid investors in understanding our compliance with our debt covenants. Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP, and our use of the term Adjusted EBITDA varies from others in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from operations or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for, analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. For example, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect: (a) our capital expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; (b) changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; (c) the significant interest expenses, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt; (d) tax payments that represent a reduction in cash available to us; (e) any cash requirements for the assets being depreciated and amortized that may have to be replaced in the future; or (f) the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters that we and the lenders under our credit agreement may not consider indicative of our ongoing operations. In particular, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA allows us to add back certain non-cash, non-operating or non-recurring charges that are deducted in calculating net income, even though these are expenses that may recur, vary greatly and are difficult to predict and can represent the effect of long-term strategies as opposed to short-term results. “Adjusted EBITDA Margin” is the term we use to describe Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales.

In addition, certain of these expenses can represent the reduction of cash that could be used for other corporate purposes. Further, although not included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA below, the measure may at times allow us to add estimated cost savings and operating synergies related to operational changes ranging from acquisitions to dispositions to restructurings and/or exclude one-time transition expenditures that we anticipate we will need to incur to realize cost savings before such savings have occurred. Further, management and various investors use the ratio of total debt less cash to Adjusted EBITDA (which includes a full pro-forma last-twelve-month impact of acquisitions), or "net debt leverage", as a measure of our financial strength and ability to incur incremental indebtedness when making key investment decisions and evaluating us against peers. Lastly, management and various investors use the ratio of the change in Adjusted EBITDA divided by the change in net sales (referred to as “incremental margin” in the case of an increase in net sales or “decremental margin” in the case of a decrease in net sales) as an additional measure of our financial performance and when making key investment decisions and evaluating us against peers.

Free Cash Flow

We define Free Cash Flow as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures, and we use this metric in analyzing our ability to service and repay our debt and to forecast future periods. However, this measure does not represent funds available for investment or other discretionary uses since it does not deduct cash used to service our debt. We define Free Cash Flow Conversion as Free Cash Flow divided by net income.

Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”)

ROIC is used because we believe it is an important supplemental measure of financial performance and it is also currently a performance measure under our long-term incentive plan. ROIC is frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. ROIC is also used by investors and analysts to evaluate management’s deployment of capital to create shareholder value. We define ROIC as tax-effected net operating income for the last 12 months divided by average total invested capital over a rolling four-quarter period. Total invested capital is defined as shareholders equity plus debt, less cash and cash equivalents. Other companies may not define or calculate ROIC in the same way.

About Zurn Elkay Water Solutions

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is a growth-oriented, pure-play water management business that designs, procures, manufactures, and markets what we believe to be the broadest sustainable product portfolio of specification-driven water management solutions to improve health, human safety and the environment. Our product portfolio includes professional grade water safety and control products, flow system products, hygienic and environmental products, and filtered drinking water products for public and private spaces that deliver superior value to building owners, positively impact the environment and human hygiene and reduce product installation time. Additional information about Zurn Elkay Water Solutions can be found at www.zurnelkay.com.

Conference Call Details

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions will hold a conference call and webcast presentation on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its fourth quarter 2023 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions. Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Chairman and CEO, Todd Adams, and Senior Vice President and CFO, Mark Peterson, will co-host the call and webcast. The conference call can be accessed via telephone as follows:

Domestic toll-free: 888-510-2359

International toll: 646-960-0215

Access Code: 7660247

A live webcast of the call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website. Please go to the website (investors.zurnelkay.com) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

If you are unable to participate during the live teleconference, a replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the call's completion until 10:59 p.m. Central Time, February 14, 2024. To access the replay, please dial 800-770-2030 (domestic) or 647-362-9199 (international). The Conference ID for the replay is: 7660247. The replay will also be available as a webcast on the Company's investor relations website.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

Information in this release may involve outlook, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, strategies or other statements regarding the future, which are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Zurn Elkay Water Solutions as of the date of this release, and Zurn Elkay Water Solutions assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Please refer to “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, as well as the Company’s subsequent annual, quarterly and current reports filed on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with the business.