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Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced fourth quarter results for 2024. Provided below are the highlights:

  • Reported and local currency sales increased 12% compared with the prior year.
  • Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $11.96, compared with $8.52 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS was $12.41, an increase of 32% over the prior-year amount of $9.40. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to EPS is included on the last page of the attached schedules.

Fourth Quarter Results

Patrick Kaltenbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We had a strong finish to the year as we capitalized on very good customer demand for Laboratory products, especially in Europe. Strong sales growth and solid execution of our margin improvement initiatives contributed to excellent Adjusted EPS and cash flow.”

GAAP Results

EPS in the quarter was $11.96, compared with the prior-year amount of $8.52.

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales rose 12% to $1.045 billion. By region, reported sales increased 6% in the Americas, 18% in Europe, and 15% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $314.5 million, compared with $232.6 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $12.41, an increase of 32% over the prior-year amount of $9.40.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 12%. By region, local currency sales increased 7% in the Americas, 19% in Europe, and 14% in Asia/Rest of World. Excluding the impact from delayed fourth quarter 2023 shipments, sales in local currency increased 6%, including sales growth of 3% in the Americas, 8% in Europe, and 10% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $351.9 million, compared with the prior-year amount of $281.8 million.

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Full Year Results

GAAP Results

EPS was $40.48, compared with the prior-year amount of $35.90, and included a non-cash discrete tax benefit of $1.07 per share.

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales increased 2% to $3.872 billion. By region, reported sales increased 2% in the Americas and 8% in Europe and declined 3% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $1.037 billion, compared with $973.7 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $41.11, an 8% increase from the prior-year amount of $38.03.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency grew 3% as currency reduced sales growth by 1%. By region, local currency sales increased 3% in the Americas and 8% in Europe and declined 1% in Asia/Rest of World. Excluding the impact from delayed fourth quarter 2023 shipments, local currency sales in 2024 were flat, including sales growth of 1% in the Americas and 2% in Europe and a decline of 3% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $1.200 billion, a 4% increase compared with the prior-year amount of $1.152 billion.

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Outlook

Management cautions that market conditions are uncertain and could change quickly. Based on today's assessment, management anticipates local currency sales for the first quarter of 2025 will decline approximately 3% to 4%, which includes a headwind of approximately 6% from the previously disclosed shipping delays in the fourth quarter of 2023 that benefited the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted EPS is forecast to be $7.75 to $7.95, a decline of 11% to 13%, which includes headwinds of approximately 18% from the previously mentioned shipping delays and an estimated 2% due to adverse currency.

For the full year 2025, management anticipates local currency sales will increase approximately 3%, which includes a headwind of approximately 1.5% from the previously disclosed shipping delays in the fourth quarter of 2023 that benefited the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted EPS is forecast to be in the range of $42.35 to $43.00, representing growth of approximately 3% to 5%, and includes headwinds of approximately 4% from the previously mentioned shipping delays and an estimated 2% due to adverse currency. This compares with previous local currency sales growth guidance of approximately 3% and Adjusted EPS guidance of $41.85 to $42.50.

The Company does not provide GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis because we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the timing and amount of future restructuring and other non-recurring items.

Conclusion

Kaltenbach concluded, “We achieved good results in 2024 despite soft market conditions and continue to benefit from our strong culture of execution and continuous improvement. At the same time, we stayed focused on our long-term strategy of delivering innovative solutions and extending our market leadership. Driving growth is our top priority in 2025, and we will continue to build on our competitive strengths and take advantage of opportunities in automation, digitalization, and high-growth areas to further expand our market share and deliver good earnings growth.”

Other Matters

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results tomorrow morning (Friday, February 7) at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company’s website at investor.mt.com. The presentation referenced on the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call.

METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control, and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food, and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

You should not rely on forward-looking statements to predict our actual results. Our actual results or performance may be materially different than reflected in forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including statements about expected revenue growth, inflation, ongoing developments related to Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue.”

We make forward-looking statements about future events or our future financial performance, including earnings and sales growth, earnings per share, strategic plans and contingency plans, growth opportunities or economic downturns, our ability to respond to changes in market conditions, planned research and development efforts and product introductions, adequacy of facilities, access to and the costs of raw materials, shipping and supplier costs, gross margins, customer demand, our competitive position, pricing, capital expenditures, cash flow, tax-related matters, the impact of foreign currencies, compliance with laws, effects of acquisitions, and the impact of inflation, ongoing developments related to Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East on our business.

Our forward-looking statements may not be accurate or complete, and we do not intend to update or revise them in light of actual results. New risks also periodically arise. Please consider the risks and factors that could cause our results to differ materially from what is described in our forward-looking statements, including inflation, ongoing developments related to Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East. See in particular “Factors Affecting Our Future Operating Results” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands except share data)
(unaudited)
 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

 

 

% of sales

 

December 31, 2023

 

% of sales

 
Net sales

$

1,045,127

 

(a)

100.0

 

$

934,992

 

100.0

 

Cost of sales

 

405,812

 

38.8

 

 

383,354

 

41.0

 

Gross profit

 

639,315

 

61.2

 

 

551,638

 

59.0

 

 
Research and development

 

50,054

 

4.8

 

 

46,435

 

5.0

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

237,340

 

22.7

 

 

223,427

 

23.9

 

Amortization

 

18,220

 

1.8

 

 

18,078

 

1.9

 

Interest expense

 

17,850

 

1.7

 

 

19,655

 

2.1

 

Restructuring charges

 

2,147

 

0.2

 

 

13,055

 

1.4

 

Other charges (income), net

 

(843

)

(0.1

)

 

(1,568

)

(0.2

)

Earnings before taxes

 

314,547

 

30.1

 

 

232,556

 

24.9

 

 
Provision for taxes

 

62,246

 

6.0

 

 

47,761

 

5.1

 

Net earnings

$

252,301

 

24.1

 

$

184,795

 

19.8

 

 
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings

$

12.00

 

$

8.56

 

Weighted average number of common shares

 

21,024,024

 

 

21,593,616

 

 
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings

$

11.96

 

$

8.52

 

Weighted average number of common

 

21,101,360

 

 

21,687,577

 

and common equivalent shares
 
Note:

(a) Local currency sales increased 12% as compared to the same period in 2023.

 

RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

 

 

% of sales

 

December 31, 2023

 

% of sales

 
Earnings before taxes

$

314,547

 

$

232,556

 

Amortization

 

18,220

 

 

18,078

 

Interest expense

 

17,850

 

 

19,655

 

Restructuring charges

 

2,147

 

 

13,055

 

Other charges (income), net

 

(843

)

 

(1,568

)

Adjusted operating profit

$

351,921

 

(b)

33.7

 

$

281,776

 

30.1

 

 
Note:

(b) Adjusted operating profit increased 25% as compared to the same period in 2023.

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(amounts in thousands except share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

 

 

% of sales

 

December 31, 2023

 

% of sales

 
Net sales

$

3,872,361

 

(a)

100.0

 

$

3,788,309

 

100.0

 

Cost of sales

 

1,546,778

 

39.9

 

 

1,547,023

 

40.8

 

Gross profit

 

2,325,583

 

60.1

 

 

2,241,286

 

59.2

 

 
Research and development

 

189,357

 

4.9

 

 

185,284

 

4.9

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

936,303

 

24.2

 

 

904,106

 

23.9

 

Amortization

 

72,869

 

1.9

 

 

72,213

 

1.9

 

Interest expense

 

74,631

 

1.9

 

 

77,366

 

2.0

 

Restructuring charges

 

19,771

 

0.5

 

 

32,735

 

0.9

 

Other charges (income), net

 

(4,571

)

(0.1

)

 

(4,146

)

(0.1

)

Earnings before taxes

 

1,037,223

 

26.8

 

 

973,728

 

25.7

 

 
Provision for taxes

 

174,083

 

4.5

 

 

184,950

 

4.9

 

Net earnings

$

863,140

 

22.3

 

$

788,778

 

20.8

 

 
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings

$

40.67

 

$

36.10

 

Weighted average number of common shares

 

21,221,839

 

 

21,848,122

 

 
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings

$

40.48

 

$

35.90

 

Weighted average number of common

 

21,320,641

 

 

21,971,528

 

and common equivalent shares
 
Note:

(a) Local currency sales increased 3% as compared to the same period in 2023.

 
RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT
 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

 

 

% of sales

 

December 31, 2023

 

% of sales

 
Earnings before taxes

$

1,037,223

 

$

973,728

 

Amortization

 

72,869

 

 

72,213

 

Interest expense

 

74,631

 

 

77,366

 

Restructuring charges

 

19,771

 

 

32,735

 

Other charges (income), net

 

(4,571

)

 

(4,146

)

Adjusted operating profit

$

1,199,923

 

(b)

31.0

 

$

1,151,896

 

30.4

 

 
Note:

(b) Adjusted operating profit increased 4% as compared to the same period in 2023.

 
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
 
Cash and cash equivalents

$

59,362

 

$

69,807

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

687,112

 

 

663,893

 

Inventories

 

342,274

 

 

385,865

 

Other current assets and prepaid expenses

 

105,158

 

 

110,638

 

Total current assets

 

1,193,906

 

 

1,230,203

 

 
Property, plant and equipment, net

 

770,280

 

 

803,374

 

Goodwill and other intangibles assets, net

 

926,057

 

 

955,537

 

Other non-current assets

 

349,756

 

 

366,441

 

Total assets

$

3,239,999

 

$

3,355,555

 

 
Short-term borrowings and maturities of long-term debt

$

182,623

 

$

192,219

 

Trade accounts payable

 

215,843

 

 

210,411

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

769,727

 

 

778,452

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,168,193

 

 

1,181,082

 

 
Long-term debt

 

1,831,265

 

 

1,888,620

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

367,431

 

 

435,791

 

Total liabilities

 

3,366,889

 

 

3,505,493

 

 
Shareholders’ equity

 

(126,890

)

 

(149,938

)

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

3,239,999

 

$

3,355,555

 

 
 
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

December 31,

 

December 31,

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings

$

252,301

 

$

184,795

 

$

863,140

 

$

788,778

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation

 

12,643

 

 

12,545

 

 

50,352

 

 

48,951

 

Amortization

 

18,220

 

 

18,078

 

 

72,869

 

 

72,213

 

Deferred tax benefit

 

(155

)

 

(8,918

)

 

(5,216

)

 

(13,373

)

One-time non-cash discrete tax benefit

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(22,982

)

 

-

 

Other

 

6,357

 

 

5,478

 

 

19,979

 

 

17,928

 

Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in
operating assets and liabilities

 

(23,179

)

 

69,528

 

 

(9,796

)

 

51,377

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

266,187

 

 

281,506

 

 

968,346

 

 

965,874

 

 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

898

 

 

167

 

 

1,631

 

 

835

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

(41,276

)

 

(32,416

)

 

(103,898

)

 

(105,323

)

Proceeds from government funding (a)

 

-

 

 

3,498

 

 

-

 

 

6,094

 

Acquisitions

 

(7,618

)

 

(5,198

)

 

(10,091

)

 

(5,811

)

Other investing activities

 

(3,056

)

 

(1,552

)

 

(7,104

)

 

(27,489

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(51,052

)

 

(35,501

)

 

(119,462

)

 

(131,694

)

 
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings

 

594,916

 

 

556,824

 

 

2,156,565

 

 

2,126,797

 

Repayments of borrowings

 

(598,429

)

 

(629,795

)

 

(2,175,291

)

 

(2,097,023

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

1,380

 

 

-

 

 

23,719

 

 

19,234

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

(212,500

)

 

(176,002

)

 

(849,997

)

 

(900,000

)

Payments of excise tax on repurchases of common stock

 

(8,089

)

 

-

 

 

(8,089

)

 

-

 

Acquisition contingent consideration payment

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(7,767

)

Other financing activities

 

(971

)

 

-

 

 

(2,884

)

 

(826

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(223,693

)

 

(248,973

)

 

(855,977

)

 

(859,585

)

 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

(3,654

)

 

3,100

 

 

(3,352

)

 

(754

)

 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(12,212

)

 

132

 

 

(10,445

)

 

(26,159

)

 
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period

 

71,574

 

 

69,675

 

 

69,807

 

 

95,966

 

End of period

$

59,362

 

$

69,807

 

$

59,362

 

$

69,807

 

 
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW
 
Net cash provided by operating activities

$

266,187

 

$

281,506

 

$

968,346

 

$

965,874

 

Payments in respect of restructuring activities

 

3,986

 

 

10,877

 

 

23,752

 

 

25,818

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

898

 

 

167

 

 

1,631

 

 

835

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net (a)

 

(41,276

)

 

(32,416

)

 

(103,898

)

 

(97,593

)

Acquisition payments (b)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

4,775

 

Transition tax payment

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

10,723

 

 

8,042

 

Adjusted free cash flow

$

229,795

 

$

260,134

 

$

900,554

 

$

907,751

 

Notes:

(a)

In September 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to increase the domestic production capacity of pipette tips and enhance manufacturing automation and logistics. The Company has received funding of $35.8 million in prior years, which offset capital expenditures. Funding proceeds of $3.5 million during the three months ended December 31, 2023 is excluded from Adjusted free cash flow. Funding proceeds of $6.1 million and the related purchase of property, plant and equipment of $7.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 are excluded from Adjusted free cash flow.
 

(b)

Includes $4.4 million of the PendoTECH contingent consideration payment that was reported in net cash provided by operating activities as required by U.S. GAAP for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS
 
 
SALES GROWTH BY DESTINATION
(unaudited)
 
Americas Europe Asia/RoW Total
 
U.S. Dollar Sales Growth
Three Months Ended December 31, 2024

6%

18%

15%

12%

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024

2%

8%

-3%

2%

 

 

 

 

Local Currency Sales Growth

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 2024

7%

19%

14%

12%

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024

3%

8%

-1%

3%

 
Note:
(a) The Company estimates net sales for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 benefited by 6% and 3%, respectively, from previously delayed shipments from the fourth quarter of 2023. By geographic destination, net sales benefited approximately 4% and 2% in the Americas, 11% and 6% in Europe, and 4% and 2% in Asia/Rest of World for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS
(unaudited)
 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

December 31,

 

December 31,

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

% Growth

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

% Growth

 
EPS as reported, diluted

$

11.96

$

8.52

40

%

$

40.48

 

$

35.90

13

%

 
Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax

 

0.24

(a)

 

0.23

(a)

 

0.94

 

(a)

 

0.93

(a)
Restructuring and other, net of tax

 

0.09

(b)

 

0.49

(b)

 

0.76

 

(b)

 

1.20

(b)
Income tax expense

 

0.12

(c)

 

0.16

(c)

 

(1.07

)

(c)

 

-

(c)
 
Adjusted EPS, diluted

$

12.41

$

9.40

32

%

$

41.11

 

$

38.03

8

%

 
Notes:

(a)

Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization of $6.4 million ($5.0 million net of tax) and $6.5 million ($5.0 million net of tax) for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and $25.9 million ($20.1 million net of tax) and $26.4 million ($20.4 million net of tax) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
 

(b)

 

Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $2.1 million ($1.7 million after tax) and $13.1 million ($10.6 million after tax) for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and $19.8 million ($16.0 million after tax) and $32.7 million ($26.5 million after tax) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which primarily include employee related costs; and other costs of $0.3 million ($0.3 million after tax) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024.
 

(c)

Represents the EPS impact of the difference between our quarterly and estimated annual tax rate before non-recurring discrete items during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 due to the timing of excess tax benefits associated with stock option exercises. Also includes a reported EPS reduction of $1.07 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 for a non-cash discrete tax benefit resulting from the reduction of uncertain tax position liabilities related to the settlement of a tax audit.

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL

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