Energy, Automobile, EV, Renewable News | Xylem Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Earnings

Xylem Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Earnings

February 3, 2022

Full-year organic growth, adjusted EBITDA margin expansion, adjusted earnings per share in line with November guidance
Full-year revenue of $5.2 billion, up 7% on a reported basis, up 4% organically
Full-year reported earnings per share of $2.35, up 68%; adjusted earnings per share of $2.49, up 21%
Strong demand drives continuing commercial momentum in all business segments; fourth quarter and full-year reported and organic orders growth in excess of 20%
Provides 2022 organic revenue growth guidance range of 3% to 5% and adjusted earnings per share range of $2.35 to $2.70, reflecting ongoing chip constraints across the technology sector

RYE BROOK, N.Y.–(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 fourth quarter revenue of $1.32 billion, and full-year 2021 revenue of $5.20 billion, in line with previous guidance.

Fourth quarter adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin decreased 260 basis points to 16.2 percent. Inflation and strategic investments drove the margin decline, exceeding the benefits of price realization and productivity savings. Xylem generated net income of $113 million, or $0.62 per share, and adjusted net income of $115 million, or $0.63 per share, which excludes the impact of restructuring, realignment and special charges.

For the full year, Xylem delivered adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.1 percent, up 80 basis points year-over-year. Productivity and volume drove the increase, exceeding inflation impacts. Full-year reported net income was $427 million, or $2.35 per share, and adjusted net income, which excludes the impact of restructuring, realignment and special charges, was $452 million, or $2.49 per share. The Company generated $538 million of operating cash flow, representing a 126 percent conversion, and $330 million of free cash flow, representing a 77 percent conversion.

“The team closed out 2021 with a strong performance, delivering full-year margin expansion alongside solid growth in revenue and earnings in the face of accelerating supply chain headwinds through the quarter,” said Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. “To mitigate the effects of inflation, the team also drove solid productivity improvements and price realization above our expectations. Market demand was clearly robust, as evidenced by continued strong orders and backlog growth in both the quarter and the year.”

“We expect the first half of 2022 to continue to be supply constrained due to ongoing chip shortages,” Decker continued. “Order-to-revenue conversion is set to pick up pace progressively, as we expect those constraints to begin easing in the latter part of the year. Overall, we expect full-year growth in the mid-single digits, with significant margin expansion in the second half, keeping us on track to achieve our 2025 growth and strategic milestones.”

Xylem announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend in the amount of $0.30 per share, an increase of 7 percent. The dividend is payable on March 17, 2022, to shareholders of record as of February 17, 2022.

Full-year 2022 Outlook

Xylem forecasts full-year 2022 revenue in the range of $5.25 to $5.35 billion, up 1 to 3 percent on a reported basis and up 3 to 5 percent on an organic basis.

Full-year 2022 adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be in the range of 16 to 17 percent. This results in adjusted earnings per share of $2.35 to $2.70, which represents a decline of 6 percent to an increase of 8 percent from Xylem’s 2021 adjusted results. Further 2022 planning assumptions are included in Xylem’s fourth quarter 2021 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.

Fourth Quarter Segment Results

Water Infrastructure

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

Fourth quarter 2021 revenue was $622 million, a 2 percent increase compared with fourth quarter 2020. This result was driven by healthy growth in the industrial end market, particularly in the Emerging Markets, partially offset by delayed revenue conversion in the U.S. utilities market primarily due to extended lead-times for ocean transit.

Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.7 percent, down 50 basis points from the prior year. Reported operating income for the segment was $122 million. Adjusted operating income for the segment, which excludes $2 million of restructuring and realignment, was $124 million, flat versus the comparable period last year. Reported operating margin for the segment was 19.6 percent, up 60 basis points versus the prior year, and adjusted operating margin was 19.9 percent, down 20 basis points versus prior year. Productivity benefits and price realization were more than offset by inflation and investments.

Applied Water

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

Fourth quarter 2021 Applied Water revenue was $406 million, a 3 percent increase organically year-over-year. Industrial end-market strength in Emerging Markets, US and Western Europe was partially offset by weakness in the residential market in China particularly in light of strong prior-year performance.

Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA margin was 13.8 percent, down 340 basis points from the prior year. Reported operating income for the segment was $50 million and adjusted operating income, which excludes $2 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $52 million, a 16 percent decrease versus the comparable period last year. The segment reported operating margin was 12.3 percent, down 310 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin declined 290 basis points to 12.8 percent. Productivity benefits and price realization were more than offset by inflation.

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.

Fourth quarter 2021 Measurement & Control Solutions revenue was $295 million, down 17 percent organically versus the prior year. The decline is in-line with our expectations and a result of the ongoing chip supply shortage and the outsized impact to our North American smart metering business.

Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA margin was 7.1 percent, down 750 basis points from the prior year. Reported operating income for the segment was -$17 million, and adjusted operating income, which excludes $2 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was -$15 million, a 194 percent decrease versus the comparable period last year. The Measurement & Control Solutions segment reported operating margin was -5.8 percent, down 970 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin of -5.1 percent also decreased 950 basis points over the prior year period. Volume declines from component shortages as well as inflation more than offset productivity savings and modest price realization.

Supplemental information on Xylem’s fourth quarter 2021 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 17,000 diverse employees delivered revenue of $5.2 billion in 2021. We are creating a more sustainable world by enabling our customers to optimize water and resource management, and helping communities in more than 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. Additionally, many of these risks and uncertainties are, and may continue to be, amplified by the ongoing coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. 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: overall industry and economic conditions, including industrial, governmental and private sector spending and the strength of the residential and commercial real estate markets; geopolitical, regulatory, economic and other risks associated with international operations; continued uncertainty around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s magnitude, duration and impacts on our business, operations, growth, and financial condition; actual or potential other epidemics, pandemics or global health crises; availability, shortage or delays in receiving products, parts, electronic components and raw materials from our supply chain; manufacturing and operating cost increases due to inflation, prevailing price changes, tariffs and other factors; demand for our products, disruption, competition, 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; ability to retain and attract senior management and other diverse and key talent, as well as increasing 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 charges 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 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 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, competition, domestic content requirements, 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, 2020 and in subsequent filings we have made or may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

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 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 press release. 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
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(In Millions, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,	2021		2020			2019
Revenue	$	5,195	$	4,876		$	5,249
Cost of revenue		3,220		3,046			3,203
Gross profit		1,975		1,830			2,046
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,179		1,143			1,158
Research and development expenses		204		187			191
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		7		75			63
Goodwill impairment charge		—		58			148
Operating income		585		367			486
Interest expense		76		77			67
Other non-operating (expense) income, net		—		(5	)		(4	)
Gain on sale of businesses		2		—			1
Income before taxes		511		285			416
Income tax expense		84		31			15
Net income		427		254			401
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	2.37	$	1.41		$	2.23
Diluted	$	2.35	$	1.40		$	2.21
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic		180.2		180.1			180.0
Diluted		181.5		181.1			181.2

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(In Millions, except per share amounts)

December 31,	2021			2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,349		$	1,875
Receivables, less allowances for discounts, returns and credit losses of $44 and $46 in 2021 and 2020, respectively		953			923
Inventories		700			558
Prepaid and other current assets		158			167
Total current assets		3,160			3,523
Property, plant and equipment, net		644			657
Goodwill		2,792			2,854
Other intangible assets, net		1,016			1,093
Other non-current assets		664			623
Total assets	$	8,276		$	8,750
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	639		$	569
Accrued and other current liabilities		752			787
Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt		—			600
Total current liabilities		1,391			1,956
Long-term debt, net		2,440			2,484
Accrued post-retirement benefits		438			519
Deferred income tax liabilities		287			242
Other non-current accrued liabilities		494			573
Total liabilities		5,050			5,774
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock — par value $0.01 per share:
Authorized 750.0 shares, issued 195.6 and 194.9 shares in 2021 and 2020, respectively		2			2
Capital in excess of par value		2,089			2,037
Retained earnings		2,154			1,930
Treasury stock – at cost 15.2 shares and 14.5 shares in 2021 and 2020, respectively		(656	)		(588	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(371	)		(413	)
Total stockholders’ equity		3,218			2,968
Non-controlling interest		8			8
Total equity		3,226			2,976
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	8,276		$	8,750

XYLEM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In Millions) (Unaudited)

Year Ended December 31,	2021			2020			2019
Operating Activities
Net income	$	427		$	254		$	401
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		118			117			117
Amortization		127			134			140
Deferred income taxes		10			(31	)		(77	)
Share-based compensation		33			26			29
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		7			75			63
Goodwill impairment charge		—			58			148
Gain from sale of businesses		(2	)		—			(1	)
Other, net		8			46			9
Payments for restructuring		(25	)		(36	)		(30	)
Contributions to post-retirement benefit plans		(29	)		(27	)		(19	)
Changes in assets and liabilities (net of acquisitions):
Changes in receivables		(70	)		109			(23	)
Changes in inventories		(167	)		(5	)		47
Changes in accounts payable		81			(39	)		29
Changes in accrued liabilities		7			101			15
Changes in accrued taxes		(9	)		20			(13	)
Net changes in other assets and liabilities		22			22			4
Net Cash — Operating activities		538			824			839
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures		(208	)		(183	)		(226	)
Acquisitions of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired		—			—			(18	)
Proceeds from sale of businesses		10			—			—
Cash received from investments		3			200			11
Cash paid for investments		—			(200	)		(7	)
Cash received from cross-currency swaps		14			12			9
Other, net		(2	)		2			—
Net Cash — Investing activities		(183	)		(169	)		(231	)
Financing Activities
Short-term debt issued, net		—			359			281
Short-term debt repaid, net		—			(640	)		(254	)
Long-term debt issued, net		—			985			—
Long-term debt repaid, net		(600	)		—			—
Repurchase of common stock		(68	)		(61	)		(40	)
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options		19			20			13
Dividends paid		(203	)		(188	)		(174	)
Other, net		(3	)		(2	)		(3	)
Net Cash — Financing activities		(855	)		473			(177	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(26	)		23			(3	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(526	)		1,151			428
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		1,875			724			296
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	1,349		$	1,875		$	724
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	$	99		$	77		$	77
Income taxes (net of refunds received)	$	83		$	41		$	107

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” reflects 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, 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” defined as costs not included in restructuring costs that are incurred as part of actions taken to reposition our business, including items such as professional fees, severance, relocation, travel, facility set-up and other costs.

“Special charges” defined as costs incurred by the Company, such as acquisition and integration related costs, non-cash impairment charges and both operating and non-operating adjustments for costs related to the UK pension plan buyout.

“Tax-related special items” defined as tax items, such as tax return versus tax provision adjustments, tax exam impacts, tax law change impacts, excess tax benefits/losses and other discrete tax adjustments.

Xylem Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Reported vs. Organic & Constant Currency Orders ($ Millions)

	(As Reported – GAAP)					(As Adjusted – Organic)						Constant Currency
		(A)	(B)			(C)	(D)		(E) = B+C+D	(F) = E/A		(G) = (E – C) / A
			Change	% Change		Acquisitions / Divestitures			Change	% Change
	Orders	Orders	2021 v. 2020	2021 v. 2020		Acquisitions / Divestitures	FX Impact		Adj. 2021 v. 2020	Adj. 2021 v. 2020
	2021	2020
Year Ended December 31
Xylem Inc.	6,300	5,033	1,267	25	%	12	(140	)	1,139	23	%	22	%
Water Infrastructure	2,471	2,134	337	16	%	–	(76	)	261	12	%	12	%
Applied Water	1,860	1,483	377	25	%	–	(39	)	338	23	%	23	%
Measurement & Control Solutions	1,969	1,416	553	39	%	12	(25	)	540	38	%	37	%

Quarter Ended December 31
Xylem Inc.	1,584	1,294	290	22	%	2	7		299	23	%	23	%
Water Infrastructure	598	464	134	29	%	–	4		138	30	%	30	%
Applied Water	451	410	41	10	%	–	1		42	10	%	10	%
Measurement & Control Solutions	535	420	115	27	%	2	2		119	28	%	28	%

Quarter Ended September 30
Xylem Inc.	1,518	1,246	272	22	%	2	(24	)	250	20	%	20	%
Water Infrastructure	623	558	65	12	%	–	(12	)	53	9	%	9	%
Applied Water	446	375	71	19	%	–	(7	)	64	17	%	17	%
Measurement & Control Solutions	449	313	136	43	%	2	(5	)	133	42	%	42	%

Quarter Ended June 30
Xylem Inc.	1,660	1,232	428	35	%	1	(74	)	355	29	%	29	%
Water Infrastructure	639	598	41	7	%	–	(41	)	–	0	%	0	%
Applied Water	486	326	160	49	%	–	(20	)	140	43	%	43	%
Measurement & Control Solutions	535	308	227	74	%	1	(13	)	215	70	%	69	%

Quarter Ended March 31
Xylem Inc.	1,538	1,261	277	22	%	7	(49	)	235	19	%	18	%
Water Infrastructure	611	514	97	19	%	–	(27	)	70	14	%	14	%
Applied Water	477	372	105	28	%	–	(13	)	92	25	%	25	%
Measurement & Control Solutions	450	375	75	20	%	7	(9	)	73	19	%	18	%