Highlights:
- 4Q23 Reported EPS of $1.77
- 4Q23 Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) of $2.16, up 31%
- 4Q23 Net sales of $2.1 billion, up 4%
- Sales change ex. currency (non-GAAP) up 3%
- Organic sales change (non-GAAP) up 1%
- FY23 Reported EPS of $6.20
- FY23 Adjusted EPS of $7.90
- FY23 Net sales of $8.4 billion, down 8%
- Sales change ex. currency down 7%
- Organic sales change down 8%
- FY24 Reported EPS guidance of $8.65 to $9.15
- Adjusted EPS guidance of $9.00 to $9.50
MENTOR, Ohio, January 31, 2024 – Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY) today announced preliminary, unaudited results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 30, 2023. Non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release are reconciled from GAAP in the attached financial schedules. Unless otherwise indicated, comparisons are to the same period in the prior year.
“Earnings per share were in line with our expectations for the fourth quarter, increasing sequentially for the fourth consecutive quarter,” said Deon Stander, president and CEO. “Volume in both Label Materials and Apparel Solutions improved sequentially, continuing to recover from slow market conditions, largely due to inventory destocking, while our Intelligent Labels platform continues to accelerate.
“In Intelligent Labels, we are targeting to deliver significant growth in 2024, as apparel rebounds and we accelerate the adoption of our solutions that help address key industry challenges in logistics, food and general retail, further advancing our leadership position at the intersection of the physical and digital.
“Following a challenging 2023 which included significant inventory destocking downstream from us, we expect to deliver strong earnings growth in 2024 and make progress toward our 2025 goals,” added Stander.
“We remain confident that the consistent execution of our strategies will enable us to meet our long-term goals for superior value creation through a balance of profitable growth and capital discipline.
“Once again, I want to thank our entire team for their continued resilience, focus on excellence and commitment to addressing the unique challenges at hand.”
Fourth Quarter 2023 Results by Segment
Materials Group
- Reported sales decreased 2% to $1.4 billion. Sales were down 4% ex. currency and on an organic basis.
- Label Materials sales were down mid-single digits on an organic basis.
- Volume was up low-single digits.
- Inventory destocking was largely complete as of year end.
- Sales increased by mid-single digits organically in the Graphics and Reflectives businesses.
- Sales decreased by low-to-mid single digits organically in the combined Performance Tapes and Medical businesses.
- Reported operating margin was 12.0%. Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 16.2%, up 340 basis points driven by productivity and the net benefit of pricing and raw material input costs.
Solutions Group
- Reported sales increased 18% to $692 million. Sales were up 19% ex. currency and 14% on an organic basis.
- Apparel Solutions volume was up sequentially.
- Sales in high-value categories were up more than 20% on an organic basis.
- Sales were up mid-single digits organically in base solutions.
- Reported operating margin was 10.2%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.2%, up 230 basis points compared to prior year and 180 basis points sequentially, driven primarily by volume.
Other
Balance Sheet and Capital Deployment
During 2023, the company deployed $225 million for acquisitions and returned $394 million in cash to shareholders through a combination of dividends and share repurchases. The company repurchased 0.8 million shares at an aggregate cost of $138 million. Net of dilution from long-term incentive awards, the company’s share count was down 0.6 million compared to the same time last year.
The company continues to deploy capital in a disciplined manner, executing its long-term capital allocation strategy. The company’s balance sheet remains strong. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was 2.4x at the end of the fourth quarter.
Income Taxes
The company’s reported effective tax rate was 29.0% in the fourth quarter and 27.6% for the full year. The adjusted tax rate (non-GAAP) was 25.8% in both the fourth quarter and the full year.
Cost Reduction Actions
During 2023, the company realized approximately $69 million in pre-tax savings from restructuring, net of transition costs, and incurred approximately $79 million in pre-tax restructuring charges.
Guidance
In its supplemental presentation materials, “Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Review and Analysis,” the company provides a list of factors that it believes will contribute to its 2024 financial results. Based on the factors listed and other assumptions, the company expects 2024 reported earnings per share of $8.65 to $9.15.
Excluding an estimated $0.35 per share impact of restructuring charges and other items, the company expects 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $9.00 to $9.50.
For more details on the company’s results, see the summary tables accompanying this news release, as well as the supplemental presentation materials, “Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Review and Analysis,” posted on the company’s website at www.investors.averydennison.com, and furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K.
Throughout this release and the supplemental presentation materials, amounts on a per share basis reflect fully diluted shares outstanding.
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