Acuity Brands – Acuity Brands Reports Fiscal 2024 Third-Quarter Results

Solid Execution Delivers Operating Margin Expansion, EPS Growth and Strong Operating Cash Flow

• Delivered Net Sales of $968M, a 3% Decline Compared to the Prior Year
• Grew Operating Profit to $145M, up 1% Over the Prior Year; Adjusted Operating Profit of $167M, up 3% Over the Prior Year
• Reported Diluted EPS of $3.62, up 10% Over the Prior Year; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $4.15, up 11% Over the Prior Year
• Generated $445M in Year-to-Date Cash Flow from Operations

ATLANTA, June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (the “Company”), a market-leading industrial technology company, announced net sales of $968.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 ended May 31, 2024, a decrease of $32.2 million, or 3.2 percent, compared to the prior year.

“In our fiscal 2024 third quarter we delivered solid results as we continued to execute on our strategy,” stated Neil Ashe, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, Inc. “We increased our adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share. We generated strong free cash flow, and we allocated capital effectively to drive value.”

Operating profit was $145.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $2.0 million, or 1.4 percent, compared to the prior year. Operating profit as a percent of net sales was 15.0 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 70 basis points compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit was $167.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $4.2 million, or 2.6 percent, compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit as a percent of net sales was 17.3 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 100 basis points compared to the prior year.

Diluted earnings per share was $3.62 in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $0.34, or 10.4 percent, compared to the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $4.15 in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $0.40, or 10.7 percent, from $3.75 in the prior year.

Segment Performance

Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (“ABL”)

ABL generated net sales of $898.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, a decrease of $42.2 million, or 4.5 percent, compared to the prior year.

ABL operating profit was $151.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $1.5 million, or 1.0 percent, compared to the prior year. ABL operating profit as a percent of ABL net sales was 16.9 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 100 basis points compared to the prior year. ABL adjusted operating profit was $162.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $2.4 million, or 1.5 percent, compared to the prior year. ABL adjusted operating profit as a percent of ABL net sales was 18.0 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 100 basis points compared to the prior year.

Intelligent Spaces Group (“ISG”)

ISG generated net sales of $75.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $9.9 million, or 15.0 percent, compared to the prior year.

ISG operating profit was $12.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $3.9 million compared to the prior year. ISG operating profit as a percent of ISG net sales was 16.5 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 340 basis points compared to the prior year. ISG adjusted operating profit was $17.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $4.5 million compared to the prior year. ISG adjusted operating profit as a percent of ISG net sales was 22.9 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 340 basis points compared to the prior year.

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

Net cash from operating activities was $445.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2024, a decrease of $26.4 million compared to the prior year.

Year-to-Date, the Company repurchased approximately 454,000 shares of common stock for a total of approximately $89 million.

Today’s Call Details

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. (ET) today, Thursday, June 27, 2024. Neil Ashe, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, Inc. will lead the call. The conference call and earnings release can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.investors.acuitybrands.com. A replay of the call will also be posted to the Investor Relations website within two hours of the completion of the conference call and will be available on the website for a limited time.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes the following non-generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measures: “adjusted operating profit” and “adjusted operating profit margin” for total company and by segment; “adjusted net income;” “adjusted diluted EPS;” “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”);” “EBITDA margin;” “adjusted EBITDA;” “Adjusted EBITDA margin”. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the reader’s overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance and prospects for the future. Specifically, management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors by excluding or adjusting items for amortization of acquired intangible assets, share-based payment expense, loss on sale of business, and special charges associated with continued efforts to streamline the organization and integrate recent acquisitions.

We also provide “free cash flow” (“FCF”) to enhance the reader’s understanding of the Company’s ability to generate additional cash from its business.

Management typically adjusts for these items for internal reviews of performance and uses the above non-GAAP measures for baseline comparative operational analysis, decision making, and other activities. Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide greater comparability and enhanced visibility into the Company’s results of operations as well as comparability with many of its peers, especially those companies focused more on technology and software. Non-GAAP financial measures included in this news release should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The most directly comparable GAAP measures for adjusted operating profit and adjusted operating profit margin for total company and by segment are “operating profit” and “operating profit margin,” respectively, for total company and by segment, which include the impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets, share-based payment expense, and special charges. Adjusted operating profit margin is adjusted operating profit divided by net sales for total company and by segment. The most directly comparable GAAP measures for adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are “net income” and “diluted EPS,” respectively, which include the impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets, loss on sale of business, share-based payment expense, and special charges. Adjusted diluted EPS is adjusted net income divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for EBITDA is “net income”, which includes the impact of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization of acquired intangible assets. EBITDA margin is EBITDA divided by net sales for total company. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for adjusted EBITDA is “net income”, which includes the impact of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, share-based payment expense, special charges, and miscellaneous (income) expense, net. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales for total company. A reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is available in this news release.

The Company defines FCF as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. A calculation of this measure is available in this news release.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial measures. Our presentation of such measures, which may include adjustments to exclude unusual or non-recurring items, should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by other unusual or non-recurring items.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Forward-looking statements use words such as “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “indicative,” “projection,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” and words of similar meaning, as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Statements that describe or relate to the Company’s plans, goals, intentions, strategies, or financial outlook, and statements that do not relate to historical or current fact, are examples of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Our forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and management’s present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K (including, but not limited to, Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors), quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

The tables below reconcile certain GAAP financial measures to the corresponding non-GAAP measures for total Company as well as our reportable operating segments (in millions except per share data):