Knowles Reports Q3 2022 Financial Results and Provides Outlook for Q4

Knowles Corporation (NYSE: KN) ("Knowles" or the "Company"), a market leader and global provider of advanced micro-acoustic microphones and balanced armature speakers, audio solutions, and high performance capacitors and radio frequency (“RF”) products, today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Niew commented, "We executed well and delivered Revenue, Gross Margins and Earnings Per Share within or above our guided range for the quarter. Growth trends in our Precision Device segment remain strong driven by defense, medtech, and EV. Within the Audio segment, our Hearing Health business continues to be resilient with strong margins and stable demand.

Looking forward to the fourth quarter, we expect to see sequential revenue growth from both our Hearing Health and Precision Devices businesses. Despite challenging consumer electronic market conditions, we also expect our MEMS microphone business to grow revenue sequentially in the fourth quarter, driven by new product introductions and seasonal customer product ramps. The cost restructuring in our MEMS microphone business is on schedule and is expected to show some early results in the fourth quarter and deliver on the previously announced $25-30 million annual cost reductions as we go into 2023."

Mr. Niew continued, "Knowles continues to execute our strategy to focus on higher growth and above average margin product segments and we believe there is significant opportunity to grow revenue and drive continued operating leverage as the mix of our business continues to shift."

Financial Highlights

The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance on both a GAAP and supplemental non-GAAP basis (in millions, except per share data):

	Q3-22	Q2-22	Q3-21
Revenues	$178.2	$188.0	$233.0
Gross profit	$40.0	$77.7	$96.9
(as a % of revenues)	22.4%	41.3%	41.6%
Non-GAAP gross profit	$68.6	$78.1	$97.5
(as a % of revenues)	38.5%	41.5%	41.8%
Diluted earnings (loss) per share*	$0.03	$(2.64)	$0.29
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share	$0.25	$0.33	$0.45
* Current period results include $6.8 million in stock-based compensation, $30.8 million in restructuring charges, and $3.1 million in intangibles amortization expense that are excluded from non-GAAP results.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Outlook

The forward looking guidance for the quarter ending December 31, 2022 is as follows:

	GAAP	Adjustments	Non-GAAP
Revenues	$200 to $220 million	—	$200 to $220 million
Gross Profit Margin	36.3% to 38.3%	0.20%	36.5% to 38.5%
EPS	$0.20 to $0.24	$0.11	$0.31 to $0.35

Q4 2022 GAAP results are expected to include approximately $0.07 per share in stock-based compensation and $0.04 per share in amortization of intangibles.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the GAAP results included in this press release, Knowles has presented supplemental non-GAAP gross profit, earnings before interest and income taxes, adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, free cash flow, as well as other metrics on a non-GAAP basis that exclude certain amounts that are included in the most directly comparable GAAP measure to facilitate evaluation of Knowles’ operating performance. Non-GAAP results are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP information should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release do not have standard meanings and may vary from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Knowles believes that non-GAAP measures are useful as supplements to its GAAP results of operations to evaluate certain aspects of its operations and financial performance, and its management team primarily focuses on non-GAAP items in evaluating Knowles’ performance for business planning purposes. Knowles also believes that these measures assist it with comparing its performance between various reporting periods on a consistent basis, as these measures remove from operating results the impact of items that, in Knowles’ opinion, do not reflect its core operating performance including, for example, stock-based compensation, certain intangibles amortization expense, impairment charges, restructuring, production transfer costs, and other charges which management considers to be outside our core operating results. Knowles believes that its presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful because it provides investors and securities analysts with the same information that Knowles uses internally for purposes of assessing its core operating performance. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see the reconciliation table accompanying this release.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Investors can listen to a live or replay webcast of the Company’s quarterly financial conference call at http://investor.knowles.com. The live webcast will begin today at 3:30 p.m. Central time. The webcast replay will be available after 7:00 p.m. Central time today.

Investors can also listen to the conference call at 3:30 p.m. Central time today by calling (844) 200-6205 (United States) or (833) 950-0062 (International) and entering conference ID 347758. The conference call replay will be available after 7:00 p.m. Central time today through 11:59 p.m. Central time on November 3, 2022 at (866) 813- 9403 (United States) or (226) 828-7578 (International). The conference ID is 720421.

About Knowles

Knowles is a market leader and global provider of advanced micro-acoustic microphones and balanced armature speakers, audio solutions, and high performance capacitors and RF products, serving the consumer electronics, medtech, defense, electric vehicle, industrial, and communications markets. Knowles uses its leading position in SiSonic™ micro-electro-mechanical systems ("MEMS") microphones and strong capabilities in audio processing technologies to optimize audio systems and improve the user experience across consumer applications. Knowles is also a leader in hearing health acoustics, high performance capacitors, and RF solutions for a diverse set of markets. Knowles’ focus on the customer, combined with unique technology, proprietary manufacturing techniques, and global operational expertise, enables it to deliver innovative solutions across multiple applications. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, Knowles is a global organization with employees in over a dozen countries. The Company continues to invest in high value solutions to diversify its revenue and increase exposure to high growth markets. For more information, visit knowles.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements about our future plans, objectives, expectations, financial performance, and continued business operations, including statements related to the expected impact of our restructuring program and estimates of timing and amounts of restructuring charges. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target,” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The statements in this news release are based on currently available information and the current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions of Knowles’ management concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those outcomes or results that are projected, anticipated, or implied in these statements, including risks relating to the timing and execution of the restructuring program, and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental responses to it, including but not limited to, the impact on our supply chain, and customer demand. Other risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: unforeseen changes in MEMS microphone demand from our largest customers, particularly our top five customers, who represent a significant portion of revenues for our Audio segment; our ongoing ability to execute our strategy to diversify our end markets and customers; our ability to stem or overcome price erosion in our segments; fluctuations in our stock's market price; fluctuations in operating results and cash flows; our ability to prevent or identify quality issues in our products or to promptly remedy any such issues that are identified; the timing of OEM product launches; risks associated with increasing our inventories in advance of anticipated orders by customers; global economic instability; the impact of changes to laws and regulations that affect the Company’s ability to offer products or services to customers in different regions; our ability to achieve reductions in our operating expenses; the ability to qualify our products and facilities with customers; our ability to obtain, enforce, defend or monetize our intellectual property rights; disruption caused by a cybersecurity incident, including a cyber attack, cyber breach, theft, or other unauthorized access; difficulties or delays in and/or the Company’s inability to realize expected cost synergies from its acquisitions; increases in the costs of critical raw materials and components; availability of raw materials and components; managing new product ramps and introductions for our customers; our dependence on a limited number of large customers; our ability to maintain and expand our existing relationships with leading OEMs in order to maintain and increase our revenue; increasing competition and new entrants in the market for our products; our ability to develop new or enhanced products or technologies in a timely manner that achieve market acceptance; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, and test our products and sub-components; escalating international trade tensions, new or increased tariffs and trade wars among countries; financial risks, including risks relating to currency fluctuations, credit risks and fluctuations in the market value of the Company; a sustained decline in our stock price and market capitalization may result in the impairment of certain intangible or long-lived assets; market risk associated with fluctuations in commodity prices, particularly for various precious metals used in our manufacturing operation, changes in tax laws, changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities; and other risks, relevant factors, and uncertainties identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, subsequent Reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and our other filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Knowles disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

INVESTOR SUPPLEMENT - THIRD QUARTER 2022 KNOWLES CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	Quarter Ended
	September 30, 2022			June 30, 2022			September 30, 2021
Revenues	$	178.2		$	188.0		$	233.0
Cost of goods sold		110.1			110.3			136.1
Restructuring charges - cost of goods sold		28.1			—			—
Gross profit		40.0			77.7			96.9
Research and development expenses		19.3			21.3			22.3
Selling and administrative expenses		32.6			30.7			36.0
Impairment charges		—			239.8			4.0
Restructuring charges		2.7			0.5			—
Operating expenses		54.6			292.3			62.3
Operating (loss) earnings		(14.6	)		(214.6	)		34.6
Interest expense, net		1.1			0.8			4.2
Other (income) expense, net		(2.1	)		1.7			(1.9	)
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and discontinued operations		(13.6	)		(217.1	)		32.3
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes		(16.3	)		25.8			4.6
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		2.7			(242.9	)		27.7
Earnings from discontinued operations, net		—			—			—
Net earnings (loss)	$	2.7		$	(242.9	)	$	27.7

Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations:
Basic	$	0.03		$	(2.64	)	$	0.30
Diluted	$	0.03		$	(2.64	)	$	0.29

Earnings per share from discontinued operations:
Basic	$	—		$	—		$	—
Diluted	$	—		$	—		$	—

Net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.03		$	(2.64	)	$	0.30
Diluted	$	0.03		$	(2.64	)	$	0.29

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic		91.4			92.0			92.2
Diluted		92.0			92.0			94.1

KNOWLES CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2022			September 30, 2021
Revenues	$	567.6		$	633.8
Cost of goods sold		338.5			375.2
Restructuring charges - cost of goods sold		28.1			—
Gross profit		201.0			258.6
Research and development expenses		63.7			70.2
Selling and administrative expenses		95.6			108.9
Impairment charges		239.8			4.0
Restructuring charges		9.8			0.3
Operating expenses		408.9			183.4
Operating (loss) earnings		(207.9	)		75.2
Interest expense, net		2.7			12.3
Other income, net		(0.9	)		(3.4	)
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and discontinued operations		(209.7	)		66.3
Provision for income taxes		12.4			8.7
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations		(222.1	)		57.6
Earnings from discontinued operations, net		—			0.2
Net (loss) earnings	$	(222.1	)	$	57.8

(Loss) earnings per share from continuing operations:
Basic	$	(2.42	)	$	0.62
Diluted	$	(2.42	)	$	0.61

Earnings per share from discontinued operations:
Basic	$	—		$	0.01
Diluted	$	—		$	—

Net (loss) earnings per share:
Basic	$	(2.42	)	$	0.63
Diluted	$	(2.42	)	$	0.61

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic		91.9			92.3
Diluted		91.9			94.8

KNOWLES CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES ⁽¹⁾ (in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	Quarter Ended									Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2022			June 30, 2022			September 30, 2021			September 30, 2022			September 30, 2021
Gross profit	$	40.0		$	77.7		$	96.9		$	201.0		$	258.6
Gross profit as % of revenues		22.4	%		41.3	%		41.6	%		35.4	%		40.8	%
Stock-based compensation expense		0.5			0.4			0.3			1.4			1.1
Restructuring charges		28.1			—			—			28.1			—
Other ⁽²⁾		—			—			0.3			—			1.0
Non-GAAP gross profit	$	68.6		$	78.1		$	97.5		$	230.5		$	260.7
Non-GAAP gross profit as % of revenues		38.5	%		41.5	%		41.8	%		40.6	%		41.1	%
Research and development expenses	$	19.3		$	21.3		$	22.3		$	63.7		$	70.2
Stock-based compensation expense		(1.2	)		(1.4	)		(1.2	)		(4.2	)		(4.3	)
Intangibles amortization expense		(1.6	)		(1.6	)		(1.5	)		(4.8	)		(4.4	)
Other ⁽²⁾		—			—			—			(0.2	)		(0.1	)
Non-GAAP research and development expenses	$	16.5		$	18.3		$	19.6		$	54.5		$	61.4
Selling and administrative expenses	$	32.6		$	30.7		$	36.0		$	95.6		$	108.9
Stock-based compensation expense		(5.1	)		(5.4	)		(5.6	)		(16.0	)		(20.2	)
Intangibles amortization expense		(1.5	)		(1.4	)		(2.8	)		(4.4	)		(7.1	)
Other ⁽²⁾		—			—			(0.4	)		(0.1	)		(1.6	)
Non-GAAP selling and administrative expenses	$	26.0		$	23.9		$	27.2		$	75.1		$	80.0
Operating expenses	$	54.6		$	292.3		$	62.3		$	408.9		$	183.4
Stock-based compensation expense		(6.3	)		(6.8	)		(6.8	)		(20.2	)		(24.5	)
Intangibles amortization expense		(3.1	)		(3.0	)		(4.3	)		(9.2	)		(11.5	)
Impairment charges		—			(239.8	)		(4.0	)		(239.8	)		(4.0	)
Restructuring charges		(2.7	)		(0.5	)		—			(9.8	)		(0.3	)
Other ⁽²⁾		—			—			(0.4	)		(0.3	)		(1.7	)
Non-GAAP operating expenses	$	42.5		$	42.2		$	46.8		$	129.6		$	141.4
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	2.7		$	(242.9	)	$	27.7		$	(222.1	)	$	57.6
Interest expense, net		1.1			0.8			4.2			2.7			12.3
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes		(16.3	)		25.8			4.6			12.4			8.7
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before interest and income taxes		(12.5	)		(216.3	)		36.5			(207.0	)		78.6
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before interest and income taxes as % of revenues		(7.0	) %		(115.1	) %		15.7	%		(36.5	) %		12.4	%
Stock-based compensation expense		6.8			7.2			7.1			21.6			25.6
Intangibles amortization expense		3.1			3.0			4.3			9.2			11.5
Impairment charges		—			239.8			4.0			239.8			4.0
Restructuring charges		30.8			0.5			—			37.9			0.3
Other ⁽²⁾		—			3.4			0.7			3.7			2.7
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest and income taxes	$	28.2		$	37.6		$	52.6		$	105.2		$	122.7
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest and income taxes as % of revenues		15.8	%		20.0	%		22.6	%		18.5	%		19.4	%




	Quarter Ended									Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2022			June 30, 2022			September 30, 2021			September 30, 2022			September 30, 2021
Interest expense, net	$	1.1		$	0.8		$	4.2		$	2.7		$	12.3
Interest expense, net non-GAAP reconciling adjustments ⁽³⁾		—			—			2.1			—			6.0
Non-GAAP interest expense	$	1.1		$	0.8		$	2.1		$	2.7		$	6.3

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	$	(16.3	)	$	25.8		$	4.6		$	12.4		$	8.7
Income tax effects of non-GAAP reconciling adjustments ⁽⁴⁾		20.1			(20.7	)		2.9			1.5			6.8
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes	$	3.8		$	5.1		$	7.5		$	13.9		$	15.5

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	2.7		$	(242.9	)	$	27.7		$	(222.1	)	$	57.6
Non-GAAP reconciling adjustments ⁽⁵⁾		40.7			253.9			16.1			312.2			44.1
Interest expense, net non-GAAP reconciling adjustments ⁽³⁾		—			—			2.1			—			6.0
Income tax effects of non-GAAP reconciling adjustments ⁽⁴⁾		20.1			(20.7	)		2.9			1.5			6.8
Non-GAAP net earnings	$	23.3		$	31.7		$	43.0		$	88.6		$	100.9

Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$	0.03		$	(2.64	)	$	0.29		$	(2.42	)	$	0.61
Earnings per share non-GAAP reconciling adjustment		0.22			2.97			0.16			3.35			0.44
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share	$	0.25		$	0.33		$	0.45		$	0.93		$	1.05

Diluted average shares outstanding		92.0			92.0			94.1			91.9			94.8
Non-GAAP adjustment ⁽⁶⁾		2.2			3.4			1.3			3.2			0.9
Non-GAAP diluted average shares outstanding ⁽⁶⁾		94.2			95.4			95.4			95.1			95.7

Notes:
⁽¹⁾		In addition to the GAAP financial measures included herein, Knowles has presented certain non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain amounts that are included in the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Knowles believes that non-GAAP measures are useful as supplements to its GAAP results of operations to evaluate certain aspects of its operations and financial performance, and its management team primarily focuses on non-GAAP items in evaluating Knowles' performance for business planning purposes. Knowles also believes that these measures assist it with comparing its performance between various reporting periods on a consistent basis, as these measures remove from operating results the impact of items that, in Knowles' opinion, do not reflect its core operating performance. Knowles believes that its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is useful because it provides investors and securities analysts with the same information that Knowles uses internally for purposes of assessing its core operating performance.
⁽²⁾		In 2022, Other expenses represent an adjustment to pre-spin-off pension obligations of $3.4 million, which was recorded during the second quarter of 2022 in the Other income, net line on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, and the ongoing net lease cost related to facilities not used in operations. In 2021, Other expenses represent the ongoing net lease cost related to facilities not used in operations and expenses related to the acquisition of Integrated Microwave Corporation by the Precision Devices segment.
⁽³⁾		Under GAAP in effect for the Company through 2021, certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash (or other assets) upon conversion were required to be separately accounted for as liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflected the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. Accordingly, for GAAP purposes we were required to recognize imputed interest expense on the Company’s $172.5 million of convertible senior notes due November 1, 2021 that were issued in a private placement in May 2016. The imputed interest rate for the convertible notes was 8.12%, while the actual coupon interest rate of the notes was 3.25%. The difference between the imputed interest expense and the coupon interest expense was excluded from management’s assessment of the Company’s operating performance because management believes that this non-cash expense was not indicative of its core, ongoing operating performance.
⁽⁴⁾		Income tax effects of non-GAAP reconciling adjustments are calculated using the applicable tax rates in the jurisdictions of the underlying adjustments.
⁽⁵⁾		The non-GAAP reconciling adjustments are those adjustments made to reconcile (Loss) earnings from continuing operations before interest and income taxes to Adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest and income taxes.
⁽⁶⁾		The number of shares used in the diluted per share calculations on a non-GAAP basis excludes the impact of stock-based compensation expense expected to be incurred in future periods and not yet recognized in the financial statements, which would otherwise be assumed to be used to repurchase shares under the GAAP treasury stock method. In addition, the Company entered into convertible note hedge transactions that expired upon maturity of the convertible notes to offset any potential dilution from the convertible notes. Although the anti-dilutive impact of the convertible note hedges was not reflected under GAAP, the Company included the anti-dilutive impact of the convertible note hedges in non-GAAP diluted average shares outstanding, if applicable.

KNOWLES CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions, except share and per share amounts) (unaudited)
	September 30, 2022			December 31, 2021
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	41.5		$	68.9
Receivables, net of allowances of $0.7 and $0.2		128.7			146.6
Inventories, net		194.6			153.1
Prepaid and other current assets		12.4			11.7
Total current assets		377.2			380.3
Property, plant, and equipment, net		164.4			200.8
Goodwill		702.1			941.3
Intangible assets, net		88.1			97.3
Operating lease right-of-use assets		13.6			17.4
Other assets and deferred charges		91.3			94.5
Total assets	$	1,436.7		$	1,731.6

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	58.3		$	90.9
Accrued compensation and employee benefits		24.8			42.8
Operating lease liabilities		9.5			11.4
Other accrued expenses		27.5			19.4
Federal and other taxes on income		11.2			1.7
Total current liabilities		131.3			166.2
Long-term debt		78.0			70.0
Deferred income taxes		0.5			0.6
Long-term operating lease liabilities		8.4			14.7
Other liabilities		38.3			20.6
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued		—			—
Common stock - $0.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 96,299,675 and 90,946,447 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022, respectively, and 95,112,778 and 91,894,980 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021, respectively		1.0			1.0
Treasury stock - at cost; 5,353,228 and 3,217,798 shares at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively		(103.3	)		(62.4	)
Additional paid-in capital		1,658.0			1,639.4
Accumulated deficit		(240.2	)		(18.1	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(135.3	)		(100.4	)
Total stockholders' equity		1,180.2			1,459.5
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,436.7		$	1,731.6

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006066/en/

Latest in

Knowles Reports Q3 2022 Financial Results and Provides Outlook for Q4