KADANT INC 10-Q

Item 2 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations When we use the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company,” we mean Kadant Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole, unless the context otherwise indicates. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents we incorporate by reference in this report include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and may include statements regarding possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management, using information currently available to our management. When we use words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "seeks," "should," "likely," "will," "would," "may," "continue," "could," or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of the important factors that will determine these results and values are beyond our ability to control or predict. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, you should read carefully Risk Factors included in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and as may be further amended and/or restated in subsequent filings with the SEC. Overview Company Background We are a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide. Our products, technologies, and services play an integral role in enhancing process efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in resource-intensive industries. Our financial results are reported in three reportable operating segments: Flow Control, Industrial Processing, and Material Handling. The Flow Control segment consists of our fluid-handling and doctoring, cleaning, & filtration product lines; the Industrial Processing segment consists of our wood processing and stock-preparation product lines; and the Material Handling segment consists of our conveying and screening, baling, and fiber-based product lines. A description of each segment is as follows: • Flow Control – Custom-engineered products, systems, and technologies that control the flow of fluids used in industrial and commercial applications to keep critical processes running efficiently in the packaging, tissue, food, metals, and other industrial sectors. Our primary products include rotary sealing devices, steam systems, expansion joints, doctor systems, roll and fabric cleaning devices, and filtration and fiber recovery systems. • Industrial Processing – Equipment, machinery, and technologies used to recycle paper and paperboard and process timber for use in the packaging, tissue, wood products, and alternative fuel industries, among others. Our primary products include stock-preparation systems and recycling equipment, chemical pulping equipment, debarkers, stranders, chippers, and logging machinery. In addition, we provide industrial automation and digitization solutions to process industries. • Material Handling – Products and engineered systems used to handle bulk and discrete materials for secondary processing or transport in the aggregates, mining, food, and waste management industries, among others. Our primary products include conveying and vibratory equipment and balers. In addition, we manufacture and sell biodegradable, absorbent granules used as carriers in agricultural applications and for oil and grease absorption. Industry and Business Overview We had record bookings of $204 million in the first quarter of 2021 due to strong demand for our parts and consumables products, as well as a high level of capital project activity. This follows the previous bookings record set in the fourth quarter of 2020 as our businesses rebounded from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began to affect our Chinese operations in February 2020 and our other major operations late in the first quarter of 2020. As a result, our bookings and revenue were adversely impacted for a substantial part of 2020 due to reduced or delayed spending by our customers. 20 Table of Contents KADANT INC. However, many of the markets in which we operate began to normalize in the latter part of 2020. We ended the first quarter of 2021 with a record backlog of $223 million. An overview of our business by segment is as follows: • Flow Control – Orders for our parts and consumables products at all our Flow Control businesses began to recover in the latter part of 2020 and this trend continued through the first quarter of 2021. This was partially due to pent-up demand resulting from the adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic-related downtimes and shutdowns, as well as visitation restrictions at many customer facilities earlier in 2020. Capital equipment bookings increased from depressed levels encountered during most of 2020, with capital equipment revenue anticipated to increase in the second quarter of 2021. • Industrial Processing – Our wood processing business continues to experience strong demand for its products, fueled by a robust U.S. housing market and high demand for lumber, oriented strand board and plywood, which increased mill run rates resulting in higher parts consumption and capital equipment investment by our customers at our North American operations. Additionally, our European wood processing operation is experiencing a similar impact. While bookings for both parts and consumables products and capital equipment have been strong, revenue related to capital equipment orders will not accelerate until the second quarter of 2021. Conversely, despite several large project orders at our U.S. and Chinese operations in the fourth quarter of 2020, our stock-preparation business continues to be negatively impacted by delays on large capital projects and reductions in capital equipment spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as uncertainty in Asia surrounding our customers' response to China's recovered paper import restriction. The continued strength for our stock-preparation parts and consumables products, due in part to the ongoing recovery from a significant downturn in mid-2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially mitigated the effects of depressed capital equipment orders. • Material Handling – Bookings for parts and consumables products rebounded in the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to increased customer spending as a result of the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns and visitation restrictions, which we expect to continue. Demand for our capital equipment has increased in the last few quarters driven by our baling business, which has experienced improved business conditions, including the recovery of recycled commodity prices. While we have seen improved market conditions and increased demand for our products over the last two quarters, there is uncertainty surrounding the continued recovery in certain regions of the world due to variability around vaccine availability and COVID-19 infection rates. Travel and visitation restrictions continue to have an impact on our ability to interact with our customers, which affects the timing of orders. For more information on risks related to health epidemics to our business, including COVID-19, please see Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors , included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. International Sales Slightly more than half of our sales are to customers outside the United States, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Canada. As a result, our financial performance can be materially affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. To mitigate the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, we generally seek to charge our customers in the same currency in which our operating costs are incurred. Additionally, we may enter into forward currency exchange contracts to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in currencies other than our subsidiaries' functional currencies. We currently do not use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations created by the translation into the U.S. dollar of our foreign subsidiaries' results that are in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Global Trade In 2018, the United States began imposing tariffs on certain imports from China, which has and will continue to increase the cost of some of the equipment that we import. Although we have worked 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. For more information on risks associated with our global operations, including tariffs, please see Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. 21 Table of Contents KADANT INC. Acquisitions We expect that a significant driver of our growth over the next several years will be the acquisition of businesses and technologies that complement or augment our existing products and services or may involve entry into a new process industry. We continue to pursue acquisition opportunities. In June 2020, we made an acquisition in our Industrial Processing segment for approximately $6.9 million, net of cash acquired. Results of Operations First Quarter 2021 Compared With First Quarter 2020 Revenue The following table presents the change in revenue by segment between the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, and those changes excluding the effect of foreign currency translation and an acquisition which we refer to as change in organic revenue. The presentation of the change in organic revenue is a non-GAAP measure. We believe this non-GAAP measure helps investors gain an understanding of our underlying operations consistent with how management measures and forecasts its performance, especially when comparing such results to prior periods. This non-GAAP measure should not be considered superior to or a substitute for the corresponding U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) measure. Revenue by segment in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020 was as follows: (Non-GAAP) Three Months Ended Currency Translation Acquisition Change in Organic Revenue (In thousands, except percentages) April 3, 2021 March 28, 2020 Total Increase % Change Increase % Change Flow Control $ 63,754 $ 57,149 $ 6,605 12 % $ 1,630 $ — $ 4,975 9 % Industrial Processing 69,154 64,709 4,445 7 % 3,027 509 909 1 % Material Handling 39,555 37,269 2,286 6 % 1,355 — 931 2 % Consolidated Revenue $ 172,463 $ 159,127 $ 13,336 8 % $ 6,012 $ 509 $ 6,815 4 % Consolidated revenue in the first quarter of 2021 increased 8%, while consolidated organic revenue increased 4%, driven by higher demand for parts and consumables products at our Flow Control and Industrial Processing segments as described below. Revenue at our Flow Control segment increased 12% in the first quarter of 2021, while organic revenue increased 9%. These increases resulted from higher demand for parts and consumables products across all our operations, which was due in part to maintenance requirements at many of our customer locations and pent-up demand resulting from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic during most of 2020. Organic revenue for capital equipment declined slightly in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. The continued impact of curtailed capital equipment orders by our customers during 2020 primarily at our North American operations was mostly offset by an increase in capital equipment revenue at our Chinese business due to lower revenues in the first quarter of 2020 from customer-requested deferrals of equipment installations and a rebound in the Chinese economy in the first quarter of 2021. Revenue at our Industrial Processing segment increased 7% in the first quarter of 2021, while organic revenue increased 1%. Increased demand for parts and consumables products at our wood processing business was driven by continued near-capacity mill run rates resulting in higher parts consumption. Revenue for parts and consumables at most of our stock-preparation operations also increased, due in part to pent-up demand related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lower revenue from the adverse effects of COVID-19 in the 2020 quarter. These increases were largely offset by a decline in demand for capital equipment at our stock-preparation business due to the continued impact of curtailed capital equipment spending by our customers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue at our Material Handling segment increased 6% in the first quarter of 2021, while organic revenue increased 2%. Organic revenue increased at our conveying and screening business primarily due to incremental capital equipment revenue related to a large order which began in the fourth quarter of 2019 that will be essentially complete in the second quarter of 2021, a nd at our baling business due to improved business conditions, including the recovery of recycled commodity prices. These increases were partially offset by a decline in demand for parts and consumables at our conveying and screening business due to a reduction in customer spending as a result of the continued impact of shutdowns and visitation restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 22 Table of Contents KADANT INC. Gross Profit Margin Gross profit margin by segment in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020 was as follows: Three Months Ended Basis Point Change April 3, 2021 March 28, 2020 Flow Control 53.3% 52.9% 40 bps Industrial Processing 40.5% 38.4% 210 bps Material Handling 34.7% 35.5% (80) bps Consolidated Gross Profit Margin 43.9% 42.9% 100 bps Consolidated gross profit margin increased in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to a greater proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables revenue and improved margins on our capital equipment products. Gross profit margin at our Flow Control segment was relatively unchanged in the first quarter of 2021. Gross profit margin at our Industrial Processing segment increased in the first quarter of 2021 driven by improved margins at our wood processing business resulting from a greater proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables revenue, manufacturing efficiencies related to higher production volumes, and benefits received from government employee retention assistance programs. Gross profit margin at our Material Handling segment decreased in the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to a greater proportion of lower-margin capital equipment revenue at our conveying and screening business, offset in part by improved margins on our capital equipment at our baling business. Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses by segment in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020 were as follows: Three Months Ended (In thousands, except percentages) April 3, 2021 % of Revenue March 28, 2020 % of Revenue Increase % Change Flow Control $ 16,508 26 % $ 15,942 28 % $ 566 4% Industrial Processing 15,662 23 % 13,820 21 % 1,842 13% Material Handling 8,786 22 % 8,681 23 % 105 1% Corporate 8,475 N/A 7,149 N/A 1,326 19% Consolidated SG&A Expenses $ 49,431 29 % $ 45,592 29 % $ 3,839 8% Consolidated SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue remained unchanged at 29% in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020. Consolidated SG&A expenses were adversely impacted by the unfavorable effect of currency translation of $1.7 million, incremental professional services fees at Corporate, and the impact of foreign currency transactions of $1.3 million primarily related to gains in the 2020 period on U.S. dollar-denominated cash at foreign operations. These increases were offset in part by reduced travel-related costs in the first quarter of 2021. SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Flow Control segment decreased to 26% in the first quarter of 2021 compared with 28% in the first quarter of 2020 due to higher revenues in the 2021 period. SG&A expenses increased in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the first quarter of 2020 principally due to $0.5 million from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation and the impact of foreign currency transactions primarily related to gains in the 2020 period on U.S. dollar-denominated cash at our Mexican business, offset in part by reduced travel-related costs. SG&A expenses at our Industrial Processing segment increased to 23% of revenue in the first quarter of 2021 compared with 21% in the first quarter of 2020 principally due to $0.9 million from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation and $0.6 million from the impact of foreign currency transactions primarily related to gains in the 2020 period on U.S. dollar-denominated cash at this segment's Canadian operations. SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Material Handling segment decreased to 22% in the first quarter of 2021 compared with 23% in the first quarter of 2020 due to higher revenues in the 2021 period. SG&A expenses at Corporate increased in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to incremental professional services fees. 23 Table of Contents KADANT INC. Interest Expense Interest expense decreased to $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2021 from $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2020 due to lower outstanding debt and a lower weighted-average interest rate. Provision for Income Taxes Our provision for income taxes increased to $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 from $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. The effective tax rate of 25% in the first quarter of 2021 was higher than our statutory rate of 21% primarily due to nondeductible expenses, the distribution of our worldwide earnings, state taxes, and tax expense associated with Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) provisions. This incremental tax expense was offset in part by a decrease in tax related to the net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements. The effective tax rate of 26% in the first quarter of 2020 was higher than our statutory rate of 21% primarily due to nondeductible expenses, state taxes, the distribution of our worldwide earnings, and tax expense associated with GILTI. This incremental tax expense was offset in part by the reversal of tax reserves associated with uncertain tax positions. Net Income Net income increased $4.1 million to $16.8 million in the first quarter of 2021 from $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to a $3.8 million increase in operating income and a $1.3 million decrease in interest expense, offset in part by a $1.0 million increase in provision for income taxes (see discussions above for further details). Liquidity and Capital Resources Consolidated working capital was $163.2 million at April 3, 2021, compared with $155.1 million at January 2, 2021. Cash and cash equivalents were $66.0 million at April 3, 2021, compared with $65.7 million at January 2, 2021, which included cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries of $64.2 million at April 3, 2021 and $63.6 million at January 2, 2021. Cash Flows Cash flow information in the first quarter of 2021 and 2020 was as follows: Three Months Ended (In thousands) April 3, 2021 March 28, 2020 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 19,092 $ 6,169 Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (2,352) (2,672) Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (15,582) (7,002) Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (1,090) (2,693) Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash $ 68 $ (6,198) Operating Activities Cash provided by operating activities increased to $19.1 million in the first quarter of 2021 from $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2020. Our operating cash flows are primarily from cash received from customers, offset by cash payments for items such as inventory, employee compensation, operating leases, income taxes and interest payments on outstanding debt obligations. The increase in cash provided by operating activities in the 2021 period was driven by a reduction in cash used for working capital and improved net income. Cash used for working capital was $6.4 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $14.9 million in the first quarter of 2020. Cash used for working capital in the first quarter of 2021 included cash used of $14.0 million for accounts receivable due to revenue growth and the timing of revenue and $6.6 million for inventories relating to purchases for orders that will be shipped later in fiscal 2021. These uses of cash were offset in part by $8.0 million of cash provided by accounts payable primarily for inventory purchases related to increased order activity and $7.6 million from other current liabilities primarily for customer deposits related to capital equipment orders anticipated to ship later in fiscal 2021. Cash used for working capital in the first quarter of 2020 included cash used of $3.7 million related to the buildup of inventory for large capital orders, $3.4 million in accounts payable for payments related to inventory purchases made in 2019 for large capital orders, and $9.4 million for other current liabilities primarily related to incentive compensation payments and a final payment of $2.4 million to settle our post-retirement restoration plan. 24 Table of Contents KADANT INC. Investing Activities Cash used in investing activities was $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2020 primarily related to capital expenditures in both periods. Financing Activities Cash used in financing activities was $15.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $7.0 million in the first quarter of 2020. Repayment of long-term obligations was $19.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2020. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility were $10.1 million in the 2021 period. Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash The exchange rate effect on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash represents the impact of translation of cash balances at our foreign subsidiaries. The $1.1 million reduction in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in the first quarter of 2021 is primarily attributable to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro. The $2.7 million reduction in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in the first quarter of 2020 primarily related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar and Brazilian real. Borrowing Capacity and Debt Obligations We entered into an unsecured multi-currency revolving credit facility, dated as of March 1, 2017 (as amended and restated to date, the Credit Agreement). As of April 3, 2021, we have a borrowing capacity of over $450 million, including $192.8 million available under the Credit Agreement, an additional $150 million in an uncommitted, unsecured incremental borrowing facility under the Credit Agreement, and $115 million of senior promissory notes available for issuance under our uncommitted Multi-Currency Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement (Note Purchase Agreement). Under these agreements, our leverage ratio must be less than 3.75, or, if we elect, for the quarter during which a material acquisition occurs and for the three fiscal quarters thereafter, must be less than 4.00. As of April 3, 2021, our leverage ratio was 1.50 and we were in compliance with our debt covenants. We do not have any mandatory principal payments on our long-term debt obligations until 2023. See Note 4 , Long-Term Obligations, in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our debt obligations. Additional Liquidity and Capital Resources On May 13, 2020, our board of directors approved the repurchase of up to $20 million of our equity securities during the period from May 13, 2020 to May 13, 2021. We have not repurchased any shares of our common stock under this authorization. We paid cash dividends of $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2021. On March 10, 2021, we declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share totaling $2.9 million that was paid on May 12, 2021. Future declarations of dividends are subject to our board of directors' approval and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. The declaration of cash dividends is subject to our compliance with the covenant in our revolving credit facility related to our consolidated leverage ratio. We plan to make expenditures of approximately $12 to $13 million during the remainder of 2021 for property, plant, and equipment. As of April 3, 2021, we had approximately $275.1 million of total unremitted foreign earnings. It is our intent to indefinitely reinvest $252.0 million of these earnings to support the current and future capital needs of our foreign operations, including debt repayments, if any. In the first quarter of 2021, we recorded withholding taxes on the earnings in certain foreign subsidiaries that we plan to repatriate in the foreseeable future. The foreign withholding taxes that would be required if we were to remit the indefinitely-reinvested foreign earnings to the United States would be approximately $5.9 million. In the future, our liquidity position will be affected by the level of cash flows from operations, cash paid to service our debt obligations, acquisitions, capital projects, dividends, and stock repurchases. We believe that our existing resources, together with the borrowings available under our Credit Agreement and available through our Note Purchase Agreement, and the cash we expect to generate from operations, will be sufficient to meet the capital requirements of our operations for the foreseeable future. 25 Table of Contents KADANT INC. Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments There have been no significant changes to our contractual obligations and other commercial commitments during the first quarter of 2021 compared with those disclosed in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, set forth in Part II, Item 7, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Our critical accounting policies are defined as those that entail significant judgments and uncertainties, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Management evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis based on historical experience, current economic and market conditions, and other assumptions management believes are reasonable. We believe that our most critical accounting policies which are significant to our consolidated financial statements, and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, are those described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under the section captioned "Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" in Part II, Item 7, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. There have been no material changes to these critical accounting policies since the end of fiscal 2020 that warrant disclosure. Recent Accounting Pronouncements See Note 1 , under the headings Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted , in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for details. Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Our exposure to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates has not changed materially from our exposure as disclosed in Part II, Item 7A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021.