• Net sales of $929.4 million, down 3.4% year-over-year, driven by COVID-19 impacts
• Reported diluted EPS of $0.91, and *adjusted EPS of $0.92
• Residential segment up 12.9% on mass retail strength and strong retail demand
• Strong liquidity position of approximately $800 million

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) reported results for its second quarter ended May 1, 2020.

“It has been inspiring to see The Toro Company’s values in action during this challenging time,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Everyone pulled together to maintain the team’s safety, supply our customers with essential products and services, and help our communities in the COVID-19 fight.”

“Retail demand in the second quarter started strong and continued favorably until mid-March when the full effects of the pandemic were realized in North America,” continued Olson. “The direct impact of government orders and the general weakening of customer confidence reduced demand in key professional markets. Residential segment sales were strong throughout the quarter driven by new products, an expanded channel, a strong start to spring and consumer behavior in favor of home and garden improvement during stay at home orders.”

“In May, the residential segment momentum continued—driven by the same factors, while the professional segment saw a significant step down in some markets as customers reduced capital budgets and deferred new purchases,” added Olson. “While we can’t fully determine the level of customer spending that will return in fiscal 2020, we are taking every opportunity to support our customers with products and parts along with financing and other tools.”

SECOND-QUARTER AND YEAR-TO-DATE FISCAL 2020 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Net sales of $929.4 million down 3.4% compared with $962.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019; Year-to-date fiscal 2020 net sales were $1.70 billion, up 8.4% compared with $1.56 billion in the same prior year period.

Net earnings of $98.4 million, down 14.8% compared with $115.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019; *Adjusted net earnings of $100.2 million, down 20.5% compared with $126.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Year-to-date fiscal 2020 net earnings of $168.5 million, down 3.8% compared with $175.1 million in the same prior year period; *Adjusted net earnings of $169.8 million, down 7.0% compared with $182.7 million in the first six months of fiscal 2019.

Reported EPS of $0.91 per diluted share, down 15.0% compared with $1.07 per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2019; *Adjusted EPS of $0.92 per diluted share, down 21.4% compared with $1.17 per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Year-to-date fiscal 2020 reported EPS of $1.55 per diluted share, down 4.3% compared with $1.62 per diluted share in the same prior year period; *Adjusted EPS of $1.56 per diluted share, down 7.7% compared with $1.69 per diluted share in the first six months of fiscal 2019.

*Please see the tables provided for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP net earnings and adjusted non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to the comparable GAAP measures.

RESPONSE TO COVID-19

People & Plant Operations

The Toro Company implemented safeguards in its facilities to protect team members, including working from home directives, increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting facilities, social distancing practices and other measures consistent with specific regulatory requirements and health authority guidance. Many governments classified the company’s operations as an essential business for support of critical underground infrastructure, growth of food and enablement of safe outdoor spaces. The company suspended operations temporarily at certain facilities during the past two months in response to government orders or lower customer demand. All of the company’s facilities are currently open with some operating at reduced capacity.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Toro Company continues to have a strong balance sheet and capital position with no significant debt maturities until April 2022. The company believes it is in a solid financial position with sufficient liquidity to navigate the current business environment. As of May 1, 2020, the company had liquidity of approximately $800 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $200 million and unutilized availability under its revolving credit facility of approximately $600 million.

Capital Prioritization

The company took additional measures in the quarter to further increase financial flexibility and liquidity, including reducing discretionary spending and capital expenditures. For the remainder of fiscal 2020 the company reduced annual base salaries across the company and eliminated merit-based salary increases and discretionary retirement plan contributions.

The company will continue to strategically invest in its business for the long-term, including new product development and innovation. It expects to continue to prioritize debt repayment to maintain leverage targets, curtail share repurchases for the year, and consider strategically compelling acquisitions.

On May 19th, the company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share and the company anticipates its strong financial position will continue to support the dividend.

OUTLOOK

On March 30, 2020 the company withdrew its guidance given the uncertainties involved with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Toro Company will not be providing detailed financial quarterly or full-year guidance until visibility into market conditions has improved.

The company believes current market trends will continue throughout the fiscal year, including customer budget constraints and cash preservation and a preference for repairs and deferrals over new equipment purchases in the professional segment, as well as higher demand in the residential segment. At this point, based on current information regarding the global economic outlook, the company expects the most pronounced year-over-year sales and EPS percentage declines in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The company also expects negative year-over-year fourth quarter sales and EPS growth. Factors that could impact these expectations and assumptions include:

The company’s ability to continue operations and/or adjust our production schedules due to governmental actions that have been, and continue to be, taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,

Supplier risk and the company’s ability to obtain commodities, components, parts and accessories in a timely manner and at anticipated costs,

Prolonged periods of economic stress which may affect customer liquidity and could impede customer buying patterns, and

Other risks and uncertainties described in the company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“We anticipate an easing of the COVID-19 pressures as we head into fiscal 2021, and are optimistic about our strength as a company and our ability to drive long-term growth through innovation and superior customer service. Our portfolio reflects customer and product diversity, scale, and a foundation of essential global operations. We will continue to concentrate on controlling what we can control, while being prepared to respond to those that we cannot, and focusing on our key strategic priorities of accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering our people,” concluded Olson.

SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional

Professional segment net sales for the second quarter were $661.1 million, down 8.6% compared with $723.5 million in the same period last year with the decrease primarily due to reduced retail demand as a result of COVID-19 related impacts. The net sales decrease was partially offset by incremental sales from the Charles Machine Works and Venture Products acquisitions.

For the first six months of fiscal 2020, professional segment net sales were $1.26 billion, up 6.6% compared with $1.18 billion in the same period last year. The net sales increase was primarily driven by incremental sales from the Charles Machine Works and Venture Products acquisitions, partially offset by reduced retail demand as a result of COVID-19.

Professional segment earnings for the second quarter were $106.3 million, down 29.2% compared with $150.1 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, decreased 460 basis points to 16.1% from 20.7%. This decrease was primarily due to unfavorable manufacturing variance, higher marketing, engineering and administrative costs as a result of the acquisitions of Charles Machine Works and Venture Products, higher warranty expense and unfavorable product mix. This was partially offset by favorable net price realization, productivity and synergy gains, lower commodity and tariff costs and decreased incentive compensation expense.

For the first six months of fiscal 2020, professional segment earnings were $208.7 million, down 12.3% compared with $238.1 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, decreased 360 basis points to 16.6% from 20.2%. This decrease was primarily due to unfavorable manufacturing variance, higher marketing, engineering and administrative costs as a result of the acquisitions of Charles Machine Works and Venture Products and unfavorable product mix. This was partially offset by productivity and synergy gains, favorable net price realization and lower commodity and tariff costs.

Residential

Residential segment net sales for the second quarter were $262.0 million, up 12.9% compared with $232.1 million in the same period last year. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, residential segment net sales were $427.8 million, up 13.4% compared with $377.3 million in the same period last year. For both periods, the net sales increase was primarily due to incremental shipments of zero turn riding and walk power mowers to the company’s expanded mass retail channel and strong retail demand.

Residential segment earnings for the second quarter were $37.1 million, up 68.5% compared with $22.0 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, increased 470 basis points to 14.2% from 9.5%. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, residential segment earnings were $58.7 million, up 67.2% compared with $35.1 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, increased 440 basis points to 13.7% from 9.3%. For both periods, this increase was primarily due to productivity and synergy gains, lower commodity and tariff costs, reduction in freight costs and SG&A leverage. This increase was partially offset by unfavorable manufacturing variance and higher warranty expense.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for the second quarter was 33.0%, down 40 basis points compared with 33.4% for the same prior year period. The decrease in gross margin was primarily driven by unfavorable manufacturing variance and unfavorable product mix due to higher sales of residential segment products. This decrease was partially offset by productivity and synergy gains, favorable net price realization within our professional segment and lower commodity and tariff costs. *Adjusted gross margin for the second quarter was 33.4%, down 100 basis points compared with 34.4% for the same prior year period. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, gross margin was 35.1%, up 80 basis points compared with 34.3% for the same prior year period. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by productivity and synergy gains, favorable net price realization within our professional segment and lower commodity and tariff costs. This increase was partially offset by unfavorable manufacturing variance and unfavorable product mix due to higher sales of residential segment products. *Adjusted gross margin for the first six months was 35.3%, up 40 basis points compared with 34.9% for the same prior year period.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense as a percentage of sales for the second quarter increased 40 basis points to 19.5% as compared with 19.1% in the prior year period. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, SG&A expense as a percentage of sales was 22.3%, up 130 basis points compared with 21.0% in the prior year period. For both periods, SG&A expense as a percentage of sales increased primarily due to incremental marketing and engineering costs as a result of the professional segment acquisitions and higher warranty expense, partially offset by decreased incentive compensation costs and lower transaction and integration costs.

Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales decreased 80 basis points to 13.5% for the second quarter. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales decreased 240 basis points to 14.0%. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 12.8% compared with 13.3% in the year-ago period. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2020 were 13.1% compared with 14.7% in the year-ago period.

Interest expense increased $2.0 million and $5.4 million for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2020 compared to the year-ago periods. These increases were due to higher debt outstanding related to professional segment acquisitions.

The effective tax rate for the second quarter was 18.9% compared with 15.8% for the second quarter of fiscal 2019, driven by a lower tax benefit related to the excess tax deduction for share-based compensation. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the second quarter was 20.0% compared with 19.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, the effective tax rate was 18.8% compared with 15.5% for the year-ago period. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the first six-month period of fiscal 2020 was 20.4% versus 20.2% in the prior-year period.

Working capital at the end of the second quarter was up compared to prior year, primarily driven by higher inventories and lower accounts payable. Inventory was up driven by higher finished goods in our professional segment due to COVID-19 related sales reductions, increased raw materials and work in process inventories as a result of production downtime, and incremental inventories from Venture Products. Accounts receivable were down as a result of lower professional segment sales driven by reduced demand due to COVID-19, partially offset by incremental residential segment sales to expanded mass retail channel and additional receivables from Venture Products. Accounts payable were down as a result of decreased purchases of commodities, components, parts and accessories which was partially offset by incremental Venture Products payables.