Xylem Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

  • First-quarter revenue grew 14%, up 17% organically
  • First-quarter earnings per share of $0.54, up 20%; adjusted earnings per share of $0.72, up 53%
  • Raising full-year organic revenue growth guidance to 8% to 9%, from 4% to 6%
  • Lifting full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $3.15 to $3.35, from $3.00 to $3.25
  • Evoqua transaction on track to close by mid-year

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#LetsSolveWater–Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, today reported first-quarter revenue of $1.4 billion, surpassing prior guidance, with strong commercial and operational execution. While first-quarter orders were down 8 percent on a reported basis and down 5 percent organically, the Company grew backlog on resilient underlying demand.

First-quarter earnings exceeded Xylem’s previous guidance. Net income was $99 million, or $0.54 per share. Net income margin increased 40 basis points to 6.8 percent. These Xylem stand-alone results include acquisition and integration costs related to the pending acquisition of Evoqua and higher taxes during the quarter. Adjusted net income was $130 million, or $0.72 per share, which excludes the impacts of restructuring, realignment, and special charges. First-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin was 16.3 percent, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 210 basis points. Strong price realization offset inflation and, coupled with productivity savings and higher volume, drove the margin expansion, exceeding the impact of strategic investments.

“The team delivered a very strong first-quarter performance, well ahead of expectations,” said Patrick Decker, Xylem president and CEO. “Market demand remains robust, reflected in healthy backlog growth and book-to-bill greater than one in all segments. We continue to see solid results on revenue and margin driven by commercial momentum, price realization, and supply chain improvements.”

“Looking ahead, we’re confident in raising our 2023 guidance despite a dynamic macro-economic environment and are excited about the opportunity for growth and value creation from our pending combination with Evoqua. We have made significant progress with regulatory approvals and integration planning, and expect the transaction to close by mid-year. From day one, we will build on the combined strengths of Xylem and Evoqua to create a transformative platform for solving our customers’ and communities’ most urgent water challenges.”

Outlook

Xylem’s full-year 2023 guidance does not reflect the planned acquisition of Evoqua, which was announced on January 23, 2023, and is expected to close by mid-year 2023. Additional information about the proposed transaction is available at www.xylem.com/investors.

Xylem now expects full-year 2023 revenue growth of 8 to 9 percent on an organic and reported basis. This represents an increase from the Company’s previous full-year organic revenue guidance of 4 to 6 percent, and 3 to 5 percent on a reported basis.

Full-year 2023 adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be in the range of 17.5 to 18.0 percent. This results in adjusted earnings per share of $3.15 to $3.35, raised from the previous range of $3.00 to $3.25. The increased guidance reflects our expectations of continuing strong demand, commercial momentum, and improved chip supply.

Further 2023 planning assumptions are included in Xylem’s first-quarter 2023 earnings materials posted at www.xylem.com/investors. Excluding revenue, Xylem provides guidance only on a non-GAAP basis due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that would be included in GAAP earnings, such as discrete tax items, without unreasonable effort.

First Quarter Segment Results

Measurement & Control Solutions

Xylem’s Measurement & Control Solutions segment consists of its portfolio of businesses in smart metering, network technologies, advanced infrastructure analytics, and analytic instrumentation.

  • First-quarter 2023 revenue was $406 million, up 29 percent, 32 percent organically, versus the prior year period. The robust growth is driven by improved chip supply compared to the prior year, and strength in our water quality test and pipeline assessment applications.
  • First-quarter reported operating income for the segment was $20 million, compared to a $10 million loss in the same period last year. Adjusted operating income, which excludes $5 million of restructuring and realignment costs and $2 million of special charges, was $27 million, compared to an $8 million loss in the same period last year. The segment reported operating margin was 4.9 percent, up 810 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin of 6.7 percent increased 920 basis points over the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.5 percent, up 690 basis points from the prior year period. Higher volume, strong price realization, and productivity savings exceeded the impact of inflation and unfavorable mix.

Water Infrastructure

Xylem’s Water Infrastructure segment consists of its portfolio of businesses serving clean water delivery, wastewater transport and treatment, and dewatering.

  • First-quarter 2023 revenue was $589 million, an 11 percent increase, 15 percent organically, compared with first quarter 2022. This strong growth was driven by price realization and robust utilities and industrial demand, particularly in the U.S. and Western Europe.
  • First-quarter reported operating income for the segment was $70 million, a 5 percent decrease versus the same period last year. Adjusted operating income, which excludes $3 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $73 million, a 3 percent decrease versus the prior year period. Reported operating margin for the segment was 11.9 percent, down 200 basis points versus the prior year period, and adjusted operating margin was 12.4 percent, down 170 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.1 percent, down 80 basis points from the prior year. Favorable price realization net of inflation was offset by strategic investments and unfavorable mix.

Applied Water

Xylem’s Applied Water segment consists of its portfolio of businesses in industrial, commercial building, and residential applications.

  • First-quarter 2023 revenue was $453 million, a 7 percent increase, 10 percent organically, year-over-year. The robust growth was driven by strong price realization and demand across commercial building and industrial end-markets, particularly in the U.S. and Western Europe.
  • First-quarter reported operating income for the segment was $83 million, a 41 percent increase versus the same period last year. Adjusted operating income, which excludes $3 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $86 million, a 43 percent increase versus the same period last year. The segment reported operating margin was 18.3 percent, up 440 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin increased 490 basis points over the prior year period to 19.0 percent. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.1 percent, up 480 basis points from the prior year. Margin expansion was driven by strong price realization and productivity savings, more than offsetting inflation.

Supplemental information on Xylem’s first quarter 2023 earnings and reconciliations for certain non-GAAP items is posted at www.xylem.com/investors.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to solving critical water and infrastructure challenges with innovation. Our more than 17,000 diverse employees delivered revenue of $5.5 billion in 2022. We are creating a more sustainable world by enabling our customers to optimize water and resource management, and helping communities in approximately 150 countries become water-secure. Join us at www.xylem.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Generally, the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “predict,” “forecast,” “likely,” “believe,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “potential,” “may” and similar expressions or their negative, may, but are not necessary to, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements address uncertain matters and include any statements that: are not historical, such as statements about our strategy, financial plans, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals (including those related to our social, environmental and other sustainability goals); or address possible or future results of operations or financial performance, including statements relating to orders, revenues, operating margins and earnings per share growth.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in or implied by our forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the impact of overall industry and general economic conditions, including industrial, governmental, and public and private sector spending, inflation, interest rates and related monetary policy by governments in response to inflation, and the strength of the residential and commercial real estate markets, on economic activity and our operations; geopolitical events, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, and regulatory, economic and other risks associated with our global sales and operations, including with respect to domestic content requirements applicable to projects with governmental funding; the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the macroeconomy and our business, operations, growth, and financial condition; actual or potential other epidemics, pandemics or global health crises; availability, shortage or delays in receiving electronic components (in particular, semiconductors), parts and raw materials from our supply chain; manufacturing and operating cost increases due to macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, energy supply, supply chain shortages, logistics challenges, tight labor markets, prevailing price changes, tariffs and other factors; demand for our products, disruption, competition or pricing pressures in the markets we serve; cybersecurity incidents or other disruptions of information technology systems on which we rely, or involving our products; disruptions in operations at our facilities or that of third parties upon which we rely; our ability to retain and attract senior management and other diverse and key talent, as well as competition for overall talent and labor; difficulty predicting our financial results; defects, security, warranty and liability claims, and recalls with respect to products; availability, regulation or interference with radio spectrum used by certain of our products; uncertainty related to restructuring and realignment actions and related costs and savings; our ability to continue strategic investments for growth; our ability to successfully identify, execute and integrate acquisitions; volatility in served markets or impacts on our business and operations due to weather conditions, including the effects of climate change; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to borrow or refinance our existing indebtedness, and uncertainty around the availability of liquidity sufficient to meet our needs; risk of future impairments to goodwill and other intangible assets; failure to comply with, or changes in, laws or regulations, including those pertaining to anti-corruption, data privacy and security, export and import, our products, competition, and the environment and climate change; changes in our effective tax rates or tax expenses; legal, governmental or regulatory claims, investigations or proceedings and associated contingent liabilities; and other factors set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (“2022 Annual Report”) and in subsequent filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Additionally, risks and uncertainties relating to our plans to acquire Evoqua could cause our actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including: the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals of the transaction from the shareholders of Xylem, stockholders of Evoqua or from regulators are not obtained; litigation relating to the transaction; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the transaction and the ability of each party to consummate the transaction; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts the current plans or operations of Xylem or Evoqua; the ability of Xylem and Evoqua to retain and hire key personnel; competitive responses to the proposed transaction; the need to incur additional or unexpected costs, charges or expenses related to the transaction or integration of the combined companies; potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors and other business partners resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; impacts to our share price and dilution of shareholders’ ownership; the combined company’s ability to achieve the synergies expected from the transaction, as well as delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the combined company’s existing businesses.

Forward-looking and other statements in this press release regarding our environmental and other sustainability plans and goals are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or are required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking social, environmental and sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available to us as of the date of this Report. We undertake 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.

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share data)

For the three months ended March 31,

2023

2022

Revenue

$

1,448

$

1,272

Cost of revenue

902

805

Gross profit

546

467

Selling, general and administrative expenses

354

304

Research and development expenses

53

52

Restructuring and asset impairment charges

8

Operating income

131

111

Interest expense

9

13

Other non-operating income (expense), net

4

(1

)

Gain from sale of business

1

Income before taxes

126

98

Income tax expense

27

16

Net income

$

99

$

82

Earnings per share:

Basic

$

0.55

$

0.45

Diluted

$

0.54

$

0.45

Weighted average number of shares:

Basic

180.4

180.2

Diluted

181.3

181.0

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

March 31,

2023

December 31,

2022

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

837

$

944

Receivables, less allowances for discounts, returns and credit losses of $36 and $50 in 2023 and 2022, respectively

1,123

1,096

Inventories

857

799

Prepaid and other current assets

193

173

Total current assets

3,010

3,012

Property, plant and equipment, net

631

630

Goodwill

2,738

2,719

Other intangible assets, net

915

930

Other non-current assets

646

661

Total assets

$

7,940

$

7,952

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

710

$

723

Accrued and other current liabilities

784

867

Total current liabilities

1,494

1,590

Long-term debt

1,881

1,880

Accrued post-retirement benefits

285

286

Deferred income tax liabilities

215

222

Other non-current accrued liabilities

476

471

Total liabilities

4,351

4,449

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock – par value $0.01 per share:

Authorized 750.0 shares, issued 196.5 shares and 196.0 shares in 2023 and 2022, respectively

2

2

Capital in excess of par value

2,152

2,134

Retained earnings

2,331

2,292

Treasury stock – at cost 15.9 shares and 15.8 shares in 2023 and 2022, respectively

(716

)

(708

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(191

)

(226

)

Total stockholders’ equity

3,578

3,494

Non-controlling interests

11

9

Total equity

3,589

3,503

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

7,940

$

7,952

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (in millions)

For the three months ended March 31,

2023

2022

Operating Activities

Net income

$

99

$

82

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

28

28

Amortization

32

30

Share-based compensation

12

9

Restructuring and asset impairment charges

8

Gain from sale of business

(1

)

Other, net

3

3

Payments for restructuring

(6

)

(3

)

Changes in assets and liabilities (net of acquisitions):

Changes in receivables

(28

)

(64

)

Changes in inventories

(55

)

(106

)

Changes in accounts payable

(14

)

20

Other, net

(98

)

(79

)

Net Cash – Operating activities

(19

)

(81

)

Investing Activities

Capital expenditures

(49

)

(49

)

Proceeds from sale of business

1

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

1

Cash received from investments

2

4

Cash paid for investments

(6

)

Cash received from cross-currency swaps

11

7

Other, net

(1

)

(1

)

Net Cash – Investing activities

(37

)

(43

)

Financing Activities

Repurchase of common stock

(8

)

(51

)

Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options

7

1

Dividends paid

(60

)

(55

)

Other, net

(2

)

(1

)

Net Cash – Financing activities

(63

)

(106

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

12

(2

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

(107

)

(232

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

944

1,349

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

837

$

1,117

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid during the period for:

Interest

$

11

$

23

Income taxes (net of refunds received)

$

49

$

15

Xylem Inc. Non-GAAP Measures

Management reviews key performance indicators including revenue, gross margins, segment operating income and margins, orders growth, working capital and backlog, among others. In addition, we consider certain non-GAAP (or “adjusted”) measures to be useful to management and investors evaluating our operating performance for the periods presented, and to provide a tool for evaluating our ongoing operations, liquidity and management of assets. This information can assist investors in assessing our financial performance and measures our ability to generate capital for deployment among competing strategic alternatives and initiatives, including but not limited to, dividends, acquisitions, share repurchases and debt repayment. Excluding revenue, Xylem provides guidance only on a non-GAAP basis due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that would be included in GAAP earnings, such as discrete tax items, without unreasonable effort. These adjusted metrics are consistent with how management views our business and are used to make financial, operating and planning decisions. These metrics, however, are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for revenue, operating income, net income, earnings per share (basic and diluted) or net cash from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. We consider the following items to represent the non-GAAP measures we consider to be key performance indicators, as well as the related reconciling items to the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

“Organic revenue” and “Organic orders” defined as revenue and orders, respectively, excluding the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency translation and contributions from acquisitions and divestitures. Divestitures include sales or discontinuance of insignificant portions of our business that did not meet the criteria for classification as a discontinued operation. The period-over-period change resulting from foreign currency translation impacts is determined by translating current period and prior period activity using the same currency conversion rate.

“Constant currency” defined as financial results adjusted for foreign currency translation impacts by translating current period and prior period activity using the same currency conversion rate. This approach is used for countries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

“EBITDA” defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense. “Adjusted EBITDA” and “Adjusted Segment EBITDA” reflect the adjustments to EBITDA and segment EBITDA, respectively, to exclude share-based compensation charges, restructuring and realignment costs, gain or loss from sale of businesses and special charges.

“Adjusted EBITDA Margin” and “Adjusted Segment EBITDA Margin” defined as adjusted EBITDA and adjusted segment EBITDA divided by total revenue and segment revenue, respectively.

“Adjusted Operating Income”, “Adjusted Segment Operating Income”, “Adjusted Net Income” and “Adjusted EPS” defined as operating income, segment operating income, net income and earnings per share, adjusted to exclude restructuring and realignment costs, gain or loss from sale of businesses, special charges and tax-related special items, as applicable.

“Adjusted Operating Margin” and “Adjusted Segment Operating Margin” defined as adjusted operating income and adjusted segment operating income divided by total revenue and segment revenue, respectively.

“Free Cash Flow” defined as net cash from operating activities, as reported in the Statement of Cash Flows, less capital expenditures, and “Free Cash Flow Conversion” defined as Free Cash Flows divided by net income, excluding the gain on sale of businesses and other significant non-cash impacts, such as non-cash impairment charges and significant deferred tax items. Our definitions of “free cash flow” and “free cash flow conversion” do not consider certain non-discretionary cash payments, such as debt.

“Realignment costs”

Contacts

Media

Houston Spencer +1 (914) 323-5723

houston.spencer@xylem.com

Investors

Andrea van der Berg +1 (914) 260-8612

andrea.vanderberg@xylem.com

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