MINNEAPOLIS - Tennant Company ('Tennant' or the 'Company') (NYSE: TNC) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Highlights
Delivered net sales of $311.0 million for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 1.7% from the first quarter of 2023, or 0.9% on an organic basis, driven primarily by strong pricing realization.
Achieved Adjusted EBITDA of $54.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $47.9 million in the prior-year period, an increase of $7.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.7% improved 200 basis points primarily due to gross margin improvements partially offset by higher selling and administrative expenses.
Acquired TCS EMEA GmbH ('TCS'), Tennant Company's largest Central and Eastern Europe distributor, to accelerate growth in the EMEA region. The acquisition gives Tennant a knowledgeable and experienced sales force and an established direct channel into countries including Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, along with an expanded network in Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and other nations in the region, as well as the Middle East and Africa.
Acquired a minority stake in Brain Corp and signed an exclusive technology agreement in February to fuel the next generation of AI-enabled robotic cleaning technologies, expected to enhance customer return on investment, and accelerate Autonomous Mobile Robotic ('AMR') revenue growth.
Announced the launch of Tennant-branded i-mop Lite and i-mop XL Plus scrubber products into the markets of Brazil, France, Portugal and Spain. This international expansion illustrates Tennant Company's strategy to lead the conversion from manual to mechanized cleaning by expanding accessibility of our small-space micro-scrubber portfolio.
Announced it will host an Investor Day on Monday, May 13, 2024, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the New York Stock Exchange.
'Building on the momentum and success from 2023, we are pleased to deliver a strong first quarter performance. Our multi-year investments to drive core growth and launch innovative new products have helped position us well to begin the execution of our new enterprise strategy, including growth through acquisitions,' said Dave Huml, Tennant President and Chief Executive Officer. 'We are excited to have successfully completed two transactions in the first quarter - the acquisition of a major distributor in EMEA that will unlock new growth opportunities and the investment in the exclusive technology agreement with Brain Corp, which will accelerate AMR adoption.'
Operating Results
Gross profit margin of 44.2% was 320 basis points higher in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023. The increase was the result of price realization and cost-out initiatives, which more than offset the impact of inflation. Favorable product mix and an increase in direct sales compared to the first quarter of 2023 also contributed to higher margins.
Selling and Administrative ('S&A') expense totaled $89.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, an $8.2 million increase compared to the first quarter of 2023, and included $2.5 million of ERP modernization costs and $1.5 million of transaction costs associated with our investment in Brain Corp and acquisition of TCS. Excluding these non-GAAP costs, Adjusted S&A as a percent of net sales was 27.6% in the first quarter of 2024 lapping an unusually low 26.7% in the first quarter 2023. The increase was due in part to higher compensation expense related to incremental headcount added to enable the Company's enterprise growth strategy.
Adjusted EBITDA was $54.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $47.9 million in the prior-year period. The improvement in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to gross margin expansion driven by price realization partially offset by increases in S&A expense. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter 2024 was 17.7%, a 200-basis-point increase over the prior-year period benefiting from operating leverage created by gross margin expansion.
Net income was $28.4 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $24.3 million in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income was $34.7 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $7.6 million compared to the first quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily driven by operating performance noted above, a decrease in interest expense due to lower debt amounts and a discrete tax benefit associated with employee stock option exercises.
Cash Flow, Liquidity and Capital Allocation
Tennant generated $2.9 million in cash flow from operations during the first quarter of 2024, a $28.2 million decrease compared to the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily driven by increases in variable compensation payouts related to the prior-year operating performance as well as investments in ERP modernization costs totaling $7.2 million.
Liquidity remained strong with a balance of $88.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the first quarter, and approximately $321.8 million of unused borrowing capacity on the Company's revolving credit facility.
The Company continues to deploy cash flow toward operational capital needs and to return capital to shareholders in line with its capital allocation priorities. During the first quarter, the Company invested $3.0 million in capital expenditures and returned $6.4 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. As previously mentioned, the Company also executed on its strategic acquisition strategy, deploying $32.1 million toward a minority investment in Brain Corp and $25.5 million to acquire TCS. The Company continues to effectively manage debt and maintain a strong balance sheet, keeping its net leverage at the low end of its targeted range.
Company Profile
Founded in 1870, Tennant Company (TNC), headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of solutions that help create a cleaner, safer and healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies and cleaning tools and supplies. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant Company had sales of $1.24 billion in 2023 and has approximately 4,500 employees. Tennant has manufacturing operations throughout the world and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.tennantco.com and www.ipcworldwide.com. The Tennant Company logo and other trademarks designated with the symbol '' are trademarks of Tennant Company registered in the United States and/or other countries.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this document are considered 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements do not relate to strictly historical or current facts and provide current expectations or forecasts of future events. Any such expectations or forecasts of future events are subject to a variety of factors. These include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to us and the markets the Company serves. Particular risks and uncertainties presently facing it include: economic uncertainty throughout the world; geopolitical tensions or health epidemics; the Company's ability to comply with global laws and regulations; the Company's ability to adapt pricing to the competitive marketplace and customer pricing sensitivities; the competition in the Company's business; fluctuations in the cost, quality or availability of raw materials and purchased components; increasing cost pressures; unforeseen product liability claims or product quality issues; the Company's ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and create effective succession planning strategies; the Company's ability to effectively develop and manage strategic planning and growth processes and the related operational plans; the Company's ability to successfully upgrade and evolve its information technology systems; the Company's ability to successfully protect our information technology systems from cybersecurity risks; the occurrence of a significant business interruption; the Company's ability to maintain the health and safety of its workers; the Company's ability to integrate acquisitions and the Company's ability to develop and commercialize new innovative products and services.
The Company cautions that forward-looking statements must be considered carefully and that actual results may differ in material ways due to risks and uncertainties both known and unknown. Information about factors that could materially affect the Company's results can be found in its 2023 Form 10-K. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investors are advised to consult any further disclosures by the Company in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other written statements on related subjects. It is not possible to anticipate or foresee all risk factors, and investors should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive or complete list of all risks or uncertainties.
Contact:
Lorenzo Bassi
Vice President
Tel: 763-540-1242
Email: investors@tennantco.com
TENNANT COMPANY 
