Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE: WMS) (“ADS” or the “Company”), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite septic wastewater industries today announced financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2022.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

• Net sales decreased 8.4% to $655.2 million
• Net income increased 11.7% to $83.2 million
• Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) decreased 3.6% to $169.7 million

Year-to-Date Fiscal 2023 Results

• Net sales increased 17.3% to $2,453.6 million
• Net income increased 86.5% to $425.0 million
• Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) increased 44.2% to $732.0 million
• Cash provided by operating activities increased 240.7% to $660.4 million
• Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) increased $440.1 million to $533.6 million

Scott Barbour, President and Chief Executive Officer of ADS commented, "The Company executed well in the fiscal third quarter despite a challenging demand environment. Through October and November, demand was largely in line with expectations, but in December domestic construction market demand slowed significantly. As a result, consolidated net sales declined 8% in the fiscal third quarter. The ADS business was down 3%, primarily due to weakness in the non-residential and retail businesses. The 30% decline in Infiltrator sales was a result of the lower residential market demand and inventory destocking, which completed in the fiscal third quarter as we previously communicated."

Barbour continued, "Importantly, though we are facing a challenging demand environment, our market leading position, value proposition and execution enabled us to manage costs, maintain favorable price/material cost and generate significant cash flow. As a result, the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 130 basis points and free cash flow increased $440 million, or 370% over the prior year. It is also important to point out that Net Income increased 11.7%. As demonstrated with the margin performance in the fiscal third quarter, our business model remains resilient in a lower demand environment. Going forward, we expect annual margin performance to be consistent with what we communicated at Investor Day in March 2022."

"As we look at the significant change in market dynamics that impact construction activity since the beginning of the fiscal year – interest rates nearly doubling and significant inflation – there is no doubt this is creating economic uncertainty. This combination has slowed down demand for the ADS and Infiltrator products. We expect the majority of calendar 2023 to remain a challenging demand environment."

Barbour concluded, "The need for the water management solutions and services we provide is as relevant as ever. The Company’s industry leading water management products have significant competitive advantages that will continue to drive above market results. We will work through this period of lower demand by managing our costs, including reducing headcount and optimizing our network. The long-term fundamentals and position of both ADS and Infiltrator remain intact, and we will manage the business through the external conditions appropriately to continue delivering value to our customers and shareholders."

Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

Net sales decreased $60.2 million, or 8.4%, to $655.2 million, as compared to $715.4 million in the prior year quarter. Domestic pipe sales decreased $24.3 million, or 6.1%, to $375.7 million. Domestic allied products & other sales increased $1.6 million, or 1.1%, to $149.0 million. Infiltrator sales decreased $44.8 million, or 30.1%, to $103.9 million. The decrease in domestic net sales was driven by sales in the U.S. construction end markets. International sales increased $3.1 million, or 5.6%, to $59.0 million, driven by growth in the Canadian and Mexican businesses.

Gross profit increased $14.9 million, or 7.1%, to $223.9 million as compared to $209.0 million in the prior year. The increase in gross profit is primarily due to the favorable pricing on pipe, onsite septic and allied products as well as favorable material cost. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in volume, inflationary cost pressures and higher manufacturing costs.

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) decreased $6.4 million, or 3.6%, to $169.7 million, as compared to $176.2 million in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to the factors mentioned above, as well as an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. As a percentage of net sales, Adjusted EBITDA was 25.9% as compared to 24.6% in the prior year.

Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures for Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow have been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Year-to-Date Fiscal 2023 Results

Net sales increased $362.4 million, or 17.3%, to $2,453.6 million, as compared to $2,091.1 million in the prior year quarter. Domestic pipe sales increased $243.0 million, or 21.0%, to $1,401.6 million. Domestic allied products & other sales increased $129.9 million, or 30.9%, to $550.2 million. Infiltrator sales decreased $0.4 million, or 0.1%, to $420.9 million. The increase in domestic net sales was driven by double-digit sales growth in the U.S. construction end markets. International sales increased $19.2 million, or 10.4%, to $203.9 million, driven by strong sales growth in the Canadian, Mexican and Exports businesses.

Gross profit increased $285.8 million, or 46.8%, to $896.0 million as compared to $610.2 million in the prior year. The increase in gross profit is primarily due to the favorable pricing on pipe, onsite septic and allied products as well as favorable material cost. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in volume, inflationary cost pressures and higher manufacturing costs.

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) increased $224.4 million, or 44.2%, to $732.0 million, as compared to $507.5 million in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to the factors mentioned above. As a percentage of net sales, Adjusted EBITDA was 29.8% as compared to 24.3% in the prior year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Net cash provided by operating activities was $660.4 million, as compared to $193.8 million in the prior year. Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) was $533.6 million, as compared to $93.5 million in the prior year. Net debt (total debt and finance lease obligations net of cash) was $882.1 million as of December 31, 2022, a decrease of $42.4 million from March 31, 2022.

ADS had total liquidity of $1,017.1 million, comprised of cash of $426.7 million as of December 31, 2022 and $590.4 million of availability under committed credit facilities. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s trailing-twelve-month leverage ratio was 1.0 times Adjusted EBITDA.

In the nine months ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 3.8 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $375.0 million. As of December 31, 2022, approximately $625.0 million of common stock may be repurchased under the Company's existing share repurchase authorization.

Fiscal 2023 Outlook

Based on current visibility, backlog of existing orders and business trends, the Company updated its financial targets for fiscal 2023. Net sales are now expected to be in the range of $2.975 billion to $3.050 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be in the range of $850 to $890 million. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $175 million.

Conference Call Information

Webcast: Interested investors and other parties can listen to a webcast of the live conference call by logging in through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investors.ads-pipe.com/events-and-presentations. An online replay will be available on the same website following the call.

Teleconference: To participate in the live teleconference, participants may register at https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=4a232ad6&confId=45958. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation through email, including dial in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open through the live call. To ensure participants are connected for the full call, please register at least 10 minutes before the start of the call.

About the Company

Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions that manages the world’s most precious resource: water. ADS provides superior drainage solutions for use in a wide variety of markets and applications including commercial, residential, infrastructure and agriculture. ADS delivers tremendous service to its customers with the industry’s largest company-owned fleet, an expansive sales team, and a vast manufacturing network of approximately 70 manufacturing plants and 37 distribution centers. ADS is the largest plastic recycling company in North America, ensuring over half a billion pounds of plastic is kept out of landfills every year. Founded in 1966, ADS’ water management solutions are designed to last for decades. To learn more, visit the Company’s website at www.adspipe.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections regarding the Company’s business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business include: fluctuations in the price and availability of resins and other raw materials and our ability to pass any increased costs of raw materials on to our customers in a timely manner; the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other pandemics in the future; disruption or volatility in general business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; cyclicality and seasonality of the non-residential and residential construction markets and infrastructure spending; the risks of increasing competition in our existing and future markets; uncertainties surrounding the integration and realization of anticipated benefits of; the effect of weather or seasonality; the loss of any of our significant customers; the risks of doing business internationally; the risks of conducting a portion of our operations through joint ventures; our ability to expand into new geographic or product markets; the risk associated with manufacturing processes; the effect of global climate change; cybersecurity risks; our ability to manage our supply purchasing and customer credit policies; our ability to control labor costs and to attract, train and retain highly-qualified employees and key personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; changes in laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations; the risks associated with our current levels of indebtedness, including borrowings under our existing credit agreement and outstanding indebtedness under our existing senior notes; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the Company’s expectations, objectives or plans will be achieved in the timeframe anticipated or at all. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Financial Statements

Selected Financial Data

The following tables set forth net sales by reportable segment for each of the periods indicated.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). ADS management uses non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company’s performance. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results available in the accompanying tables.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes references to organic results, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow, non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures are not intended to be substitutes for those reported in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that comprise net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, non-cash charges and certain other expenses. The Company’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. Adjusted EBITDA is a key metric used by management and the Company’s board of directors to assess financial performance and evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s business strategies. Accordingly, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as the Company’s management and board of directors. In order to provide investors with a meaningful reconciliation, the Company has provided below reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net income.

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that comprises cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is a measure used by management and the Company’s board of directors to assess the Company’s ability to generate cash. Accordingly, management believes that Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our ability to generate cash flow from operations after capital expenditures. In order to provide investors with a meaningful reconciliation, the Company has provided below a reconciliation of cash flow from operating activities to Free Cash Flow.

The following tables present a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income and Free Cash Flow to Cash Flow from Operating Activities, the most comparable GAAP measures, for each of the periods indicated.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Profit to Gross Profit

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Cash flow from Operating Activities

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