BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Toro Co. (NYSE: TTC) today reported results for its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year periods ended Oct. 31, 2020.

“Our strong fourth quarter results were driven by continued sales growth in our residential segment and a rebound in our professional segment,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Residential sales were robust across all channels with strong demand for our new product lineup, accentuated by refreshed branding, an extended selling season and stay-at-home trends. Improved demand for our professional products reflected greater business confidence from our customers and increased home investments. The integration of our Venture Products acquisition added another strong brand with multi-season products, contributing incremental sales in the quarter.”

“Our momentum and continued investments position us well for success in the new fiscal year,” continued Olson. “We have a strong portfolio of businesses and deep customer relationships, a dedicated team and channel partners, and innovative products and emerging technologies aligned with customer needs. We will remain sharply focused on business execution as we continue to face uncertainty due to the ongoing pandemic.”

“We will build upon our Sustainability Endures platform, our commitment to making a positive impact worldwide. Throughout last year, we put this commitment into action as we transformed how we do work and reimagined our business model from product innovation and production through customer service and support, all while keeping each other safe. In addition, we remain committed to driving future results through our enterprise strategic priorities of accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering people,” concluded Olson.

FOURTH-QUARTER FISCAL 2020 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Net sales of $841.0 million, up 14.5% from $734.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.
• Net earnings of $72.2 million, up 88.7% from $38.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019; *Adjusted net earnings of $69.2 million, up 33.5% from $51.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.
• Reported EPS of $0.66 per diluted share, up 88.6% from $0.35 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019; *Adjusted EPS of $0.64 per diluted share, up 33.3% from $0.48 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.
• As of October 31, 2020, the company had liquidity of about $1.1 billion.

FULL-YEAR FISCAL 2020 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Net sales of $3.38 billion, up 7.7% from $3.14 billion in fiscal 2019.
• Net earnings of $329.7 million, up 20.3% from $274.0 million in the prior-year period; *Adjusted net earnings of $327.7 million, up 1.1% from $324.3 million in fiscal 2019.
• Reported EPS of $3.03 per diluted share, up 19.8% from $2.53 per diluted share in fiscal 2019; *Adjusted EPS of $3.02 per diluted share, up 0.7% from $3.00 per diluted share in fiscal 2019.
• Returned $107.7 million to shareholders in dividends.

OUTLOOK

The company is providing full-year fiscal 2021 guidance based on current visibility, although there continues to be considerable uncertainty given the potential effects of COVID-19 on demand levels and timing, its supply chain and the broader global economy.

For fiscal 2021, management expects total net sales growth in the range of 6.0% to 8.0% and *adjusted EPS in the range of $3.35 to $3.45 per diluted share. This estimated adjusted diluted EPS range excludes the benefit of the excess tax deduction for share-based compensation.

FOURTH-QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional Segment

Professional segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $644.0 million, up 9.5% compared with $588.2 million in the same period last year. This increase was primarily due to growth in shipments of landscape contractor zero-turn riding mowers and snow and ice management equipment, annual price adjustments and lower floor plan costs, as well as incremental sales from the Venture Products acquisition.

For the fiscal 2020 full year, professional segment net sales were $2.52 billion, up 3.3% from $2.44 billion last year. The increase was mainly driven by incremental sales from the Charles Machine Works and Venture Products acquisitions, partially offset by reduced channel demand primarily as a result of COVID-19, for golf and grounds equipment, landscape contractor zero-turn riding mowers and rental, specialty and underground construction equipment.

Professional segment earnings for the fourth quarter were $104.2 million, up 70.2% compared with $61.2 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, up 580 basis points to 16.2% from 10.4%. The increase was primarily due to annual price adjustments and lower floor plan costs, lower acquisition-related charges and benefits from productivity and synergy initiatives, partially offset by product mix.

Full-year fiscal 2020 professional segment earnings were $426.6 million, up 12.0% compared with the prior fiscal year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, up 130 basis points to 16.9% from 15.6%. The increase was primarily driven by lower acquisition-related charges, net price realization and benefits from productivity and synergy initiatives. This increase was partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a result of the Charles Machine Works and Venture Products acquisitions, manufacturing inefficiencies primarily due to COVID-19, and higher warranty costs in certain professional segment businesses.

Residential Segment

Residential segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $187.9 million, up 38.5% compared with $135.7 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to strong retail demand for walk power and zero-turn riding mowers.

For fiscal 2020, residential segment net sales were $820.7 million, up 24.1% compared with $661.3 million in the same period last year. The increase was mainly driven by incremental shipments of zero-turn riding and walk power mowers as a result of the company’s expanded mass retail channel, as well as strong retail demand for these products due to a new and enhanced product line, favorable weather, and stay-at-home trends.

Residential segment earnings for the fourth quarter were $26.4 million, up 90.2% compared with $13.9 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, up 390 basis points to 14.1% from 10.2% a year ago.

For fiscal 2020, residential segment earnings increased 74.5% to $113.7 million, compared with $65.2 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, increased 390 basis points to 13.8% from 9.9% in fiscal 2019. The segment earnings margin increases for both the quarterly and full year periods were primarily driven by benefits from productivity and synergy initiatives and SG&A leverage.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for the fourth quarter was 35.7%, up 230 basis points compared with 33.4% for the same prior-year period. *Adjusted gross margin for the fourth quarter was 35.7%, up 120 basis points compared with 34.5% for the same prior-year period. The increases in gross margin and adjusted gross margin were primarily due to benefits from productivity and synergy initiatives, net price realization mainly in the professional segment, partially offset by product mix due to higher sales of residential segment products. Reported gross margin for the fourth quarter also was positively affected by lower acquisition-related charges compared with the prior-year period.

For full year fiscal 2020, gross margin was 35.2%, up 180 basis points compared with 33.4% for fiscal 2019. *Adjusted gross margin for fiscal 2020 was 35.4%, up 30 basis points compared with 35.1% for fiscal 2019. The increases in gross margin and adjusted gross margin were primarily driven by benefits from productivity and synergy initiatives and net price realization mainly in the professional segment, partially offset by product mix primarily due to higher sales of residential segment products as well as COVID-19 related manufacturing inefficiencies. Reported gross margin for the full year also was positively affected by lower acquisition-related charges compared with the prior-year period.

SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales for the fourth quarter decreased 290 basis points to 24.6% from 27.5% in the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily due to restructuring costs in the prior-year period that did not repeat and cost-reduction measures, including decreased salaries and indirect marketing expense, partially offset by increased warranty costs in certain professional segment businesses.

For fiscal 2020, SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales was 22.6%, down 40 basis points from 23.0% in fiscal 2019, primarily due to cost-reduction measures, including decreased salaries and elimination of the discretionary retirement fund contribution, as well as lower transaction and integration costs and reduced restructuring costs compared with the prior-year period. This decrease was partially offset by incremental warranty and engineering costs from the Charles Machine Works and Venture Products acquisitions and higher warranty expense in certain professional segment businesses, as well as a discretionary employee recognition bonus.

Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales increased 520 basis points to 11.1% for the fourth quarter. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales increased 270 basis points to 11.1% for the fourth quarter. For full year fiscal 2020, operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 12.6%, up 220 basis points compared with 10.4% in fiscal 2019. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for fiscal 2020 were 12.8%, down 10 basis points compared with 12.9% in fiscal 2019.

Interest expense was flat for the fourth quarter and increased $4.3 million for fiscal 2020, each compared with the prior-year periods.

The reported effective tax rates for the fourth quarter and full year were 18.5% and 19.0%, respectively, compared with 12.4% and 14.9% for fiscal 2019, driven by a lower tax benefit related to the excess tax deduction for share-based compensation, lower foreign-derived intangible benefits and increased earnings in less favorable tax jurisdictions. The *adjusted effective tax rates for the fourth quarter and full year were 21.9% and 20.9%, respectively, compared with 17.7% and 19.3% for fiscal 2019, driven by lower foreign-derived intangible income tax benefits as compared with fiscal 2019 and increased earnings in less favorable tax jurisdictions.

Working capital at the end of the fourth quarter was down compared with the end of the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year, primarily driven by an increase in accounts payable, a decrease in accounts receivable and flat inventory.