Helios Technologies’ Augmented Strategy Continues to Deliver Top-Tier Margins in the Third Quarter 2022

• Helios team unites to overcome impacts of Hurricane Ian and economic conditions in APAC and Europe to deliver top-tier margins
• Remain on path to achieve strategic goal of at least $1 billion in revenue in 2023
• Executing to plan with manufacturing and operating strategy driving productivity, margin enhancement and efficiencies, leveraging “in the region, for the region” operations to protect earnings and cash flow
• Year-to-date revenue up 6% on GAAP basis; Excluding impacts from hurricane shut down, quarterly revenue relatively unchanged on a constant currency basis over year-ago period
• Powerful financial flexibility with net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio at 1.90x¹
• Diluted EPS of $0.63 in the quarter; Diluted Non-GAAP Cash EPS of $0.90 reflects an estimated $0.05 impact from Hurricane Ian and $0.03 impact from FX compared with prior-year period
• 2022 outlook adjusted to reflect global macro-economic conditions driving market demand timing, material and energy cost increases, and foreign currency exchange rates

Helios Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: HLIO) (“Helios” or the “Company”), a global leader in highly engineered motion control and electronic controls technology for diverse end markets, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended October 1, 2022.

Josef Matosevic, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our focus is on protecting our earnings power, cash generation and financial strength while driving our strategy to create scale and continue to deliver top-tier margins. Of note, the agility of our Helios team helped mitigate the impact of Hurricane Ian and the rapidly evolving headwinds from the macro-economic environment with an all-hands on deck focus to meet our customer’s needs and business goals. This quarter there was an $8.2 million sales impact from the shift in currency exchange rates compared with the same quarter last year. In addition, due to the hurricane, Helios was unable to ship an estimated $5.3 million in sales. Combined, these two items represent a 6.5% impact to the top line. Without these impacts, sales would have been relatively unchanged compared with last year. We also believe our market diversification strategy is working and continues to help offset the industry issues related to reduced consumer discretionary spending globally which has impacted our health and wellness business.”

He went on to say, “We remain confident we will outperform the competition because of three very important factors. We are committed to providing unwavering dedication to our customers, we will remain an innovation leader, and we will continue to leverage our unique position as a pure play in the hydraulics and electronics industries. Despite increasing macro challenges, we continue to have a line of sight to our 2023 goal of $1 billion in revenue given the strength of our balance sheet, our flywheel acquisition strategy, and pipeline of active opportunities.”

Third Quarter 2022 Consolidated Results

See the attached tables for additional important disclosures regarding Helios’ use of non-GAAP adjusted operating income, non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, non-GAAP cash net income, non-GAAP cash net income per share, adjusted EBITDA (earnings before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain other charges), adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of sales), net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA, and sales in constant currency, as well as reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP adjusted operating income and non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, GAAP net income to non-GAAP cash net income, non-GAAP cash earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA, and net sales to sales in constant currency. Helios believes that, when used in conjunction with measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, the non-GAAP measures described above help improve the understanding of its operating performance.

Sales

• Sales in several end markets improved over the third quarter of 2021, with the recreational, industrial machinery, and mobile equipment end markets leading the growth, while the health and wellness end market continued to contract. An estimated $5.3 million of product was not shipped in the quarter due to Hurricane Ian. Sales included $2.9 million in revenue from acquisitions. (See the table in this release that provides acquired revenue by segment by quarter).
• Sales improved in the Americas and declined both in Europe and the Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") and the Asia Pacific ("APAC") regions compared with the third quarter of 2021. Sales for both the EMEA and APAC regions, excluding foreign currency exchange rates (FX), are being impacted by the softening demand for electronics products in the health and wellness market.
• Foreign currency translation adjustment on sales: $8.2 million unfavorable.

Profits and margins

• Gross profit and margin drivers: gross profit was down $11.6 million compared with the prior-year period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared with the third quarter of 2021 reduced gross profit by $2.1 million. Gross margin declined by 280 basis points, driven by higher raw material costs and higher energy costs in the EMEA region partially offset by the impact of price increases.
• Selling, engineering and administrative (“SEA”) expenses decreased 3% compared with the 2021 third quarter.
• Amortization of intangible assets: $6.8 million down from $7.4 million in the prior year reflecting timing related to the Company’s acquisitions.

Non-operating items

• Net interest expense: $4.1 million in the quarter, up $0.3 million compared with the prior-year period due to rising interest rates.
• Effective tax rate: 23.6% compared with 25.5% in the prior-year period reflecting levels of income in varying tax jurisdictions.

Net income, earnings per share, non-GAAP cash earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA

• GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share: $20.4 million and $0.63 per share.
• Diluted Non-GAAP cash earnings per share: $0.90 compared with $1.07 last year, due to margin contraction related to rising material costs along with impacts from Hurricane Ian of an estimated ($0.05) and foreign exchange rates of ($0.03) per share, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin: despite macro headwinds, hurricane and FX impacts maintaining top-tier levels at 23.2% during rapid inflationary environment. The hurricane impacted Adjusted EBITDA by an estimated $2.1 million, 40 basis points when also considering the $5.3 million impact on sales.

Year-to-date 2022 Consolidated Results

See the attached tables for additional important disclosures regarding Helios’ use of non-GAAP adjusted operating income, non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, non-GAAP cash net income, non-GAAP cash net income per share, adjusted EBITDA (earnings before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain other charges), adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of sales), net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA, and sales in constant currency, as well as reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP adjusted operating income and non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, GAAP net income to non-GAAP cash net income, non-GAAP cash earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA, and net sales to sales in constant currency. Helios believes that, when used in conjunction with measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, the non-GAAP measures described above help improve the understanding of its operating performance.

Sales

• Sales were driven by strong demand regionally in the Americas and solid growth in EMEA offset by declines in Asia. End market demand saw strength in recreational, mobile, industrial, and construction equipment. Hurricane Ian had an estimated $5.3 million impact in sales for the current period. Results included $16.7 million in sales related to acquisitions. (See the table in this release that provides acquired revenue by segment by quarter).
• Foreign currency translation adjustment on sales: $20.5 million unfavorable.

Profits and margins

• Gross profit and margin drivers: gross profit nearly flat compared with the same period of 2021 from pricing and increased sales volumes partially offsetting rapid inflation. Changes in FX compared to the first nine months of 2021 reduced year-to-date gross profit by $6.2 million. Gross margin declined 250 basis points driven by higher raw material costs partially offset by the impact of price increases.
• SEA expenses: 14.2% as a percentage of sales, improving 50 basis points compared with the prior-year period, reflecting improved leverage of our fixed cost base on the higher sales and continued cost containment initiatives.
• Amortization of intangible assets decreased $4.7 million to $20.6 million from the prior year reflecting timing related to the Company’s acquisitions.

Non-operating items

• Net interest expense: $1.3 million decrease to $11.7 million compared with the prior-year period reflecting lower debt balances.
• Effective tax rate: 22.7% compared with 22.0% in the prior-year period reflecting levels of income in varying tax jurisdictions and the 2021 benefit from the resolution of transfer pricing disputes.

Net income, earnings per share, non-GAAP cash earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA

• GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share: $80.9 million and $2.48 per share nearly flat.
• Non-GAAP cash earnings per share: $3.25 compared with $3.26 in the prior-year period, nearly flat. Improved demand across several regions and end markets and operational efficiencies being achieved through execution of the manufacturing and operating strategy were offset by macro headwinds and rapid inflation.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin: maintaining top-tier levels at 24.1% while down 120 basis points compared with the prior-year period due to inflationary environment. The hurricane impacted Adjusted EBITDA by an estimated $2.1 million, 10 basis points year to date when also considering the $5.3 million impact on sales.

Hydraulics Segment Review

(Refer to sales by geographic region and segment data in accompanying tables)

Third Quarter Hydraulics Segment Review

• Sales decreased 2% to $131.2 million as demand in Americas helped to offset the impact of the hurricane and FX. On a constant currency basis and excluding the estimated $5.3 million impact of the hurricane, sales increased 8% driven by pricing and higher volume in the Americas. This was somewhat offset by lower volume in the APAC and supply chain constraints. FX had a $7.9 million unfavorable adjustment on sales.

• Gross profit and margin drivers: gross profit decreased $3.7 million, or 7%, compared with the same quarter of the prior year primarily due to the estimated impact from the hurricane of $2.3 million, unfavorable FX of $1.9 million, and inflation. Gross margin reflects the impact of material and energy cost increases along with an unfavorable product mix.

• Operating income decreased $2.4 million, or 8%, while operating margin of 22.4% declined 140 basis points reflecting the flow through of gross margin. In the quarter there were $0.8 million of restructuring costs in SEA expenses primarily related to the EMEA and APAC regions.

Electronics Segment Review

(Refer to sales by geographic region and segment data in accompanying tables)

Third Quarter Electronics Segment Review

• Sales decreased 15% to $76.0 million, with slightly higher demand in the Americas offsetting declines in the APAC and EMEA regions. End market demand was driven by recreational, industrial machinery markets, and construction which partially offset supply chain constraints and a contracting health and wellness market. Foreign currency exchange rates had a $0.3 million unfavorable adjustment on sales.
• Gross profit and margin drivers: gross profit decreased $8.5 million, or 27%, compared with the same quarter of the prior year primarily due to sales volume and unfavorable FX of $0.3 million. Gross margin declined 490 basis points to 30.0%, reflecting increases in raw material, one-time restructuring costs incurred to realign the segments labor base, labor inefficiencies and reduced fixed cost leverage on the lower sales.
• Operating income decreased $7.4 million to $11.0 million, or 40%, while operating margin declined 600 basis points to 14.5% reflecting flow through of gross margin and additional restructuring costs. In the quarter there were $0.4 million of restructuring costs in SEA expenses.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Review

Tricia Fulton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, “We have a strong balance sheet and significant financial flexibility to execute our strategy for growth. We believe this puts us in a solid position to capitalize on unstable market conditions to make selective bolt-on acquisitions and advance toward our financial goals for 2023. We are highly diligent in our efforts and have a solid pipeline of opportunities. Importantly, as supply chain constraints ease, we expect to generate more cash from the release of working capital. We remain very excited about our future despite the short-term challenging operating environment.”

• Total debt at quarter-end was $457.5 million compared with $419.1 million at end of the second quarter of 2022 as we used debt to fund our recent acquisition. For the nine-month period, borrowings, net of repayments, on our credit facilities amounted to $27.9 million.
• Cash and cash equivalents at October 1, 2022 were 36.8 million, down $4.5 million from the end of the second quarter of 2022, and up $8.3 million from the end of 2021.
• Inventory increased $0.8 million to $179.7 million from the second quarter of 2022 and were 9% higher than the end of 2021 driven by the macro issues in the supply chain. These issues include the Company purchasing parts ahead of material shortages, holding some inventory for past due orders where one or two components have been delayed in the supply chain, along with customers changing shipping schedules once the Company has already manufactured the products.
• Pro-forma net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA increased slightly to 1.90x at the end of the third quarter of 2022 (pro-forma for Taimi and Daman Products Company “Daman”) compared with 1.89x (pro-forma for the NEM and Joyonway acquisitions) at the end of 2021, impacted by the recent acquisition of Daman. At the end of third quarter 2022, the Company had $131.4 million available on its revolving lines of credit.
• Net cash provided by operations was $30.0 million in the third quarter 2022 compared with $32.5 million in the prior-year period, bringing the nine-month cash flow from operations to $74.2 million compared with $82.0 million for the comparable period in 2021.
• Capital expenditures were $8.5 million in the third quarter 2022, or approximately 4% of sales. This compares with $6.7 million, or approximately 3% of sales, in the year-ago period.
• Paid 103^rd sequential quarterly cash dividend on October 20, 2022.

Updated 2022 Outlook

The Company is updating its outlook for 2022, which assumes constant currency using quarter end rates, impacts from global macro-economic conditions effecting market demand timing, material and energy cost increases, and foreign currency exchange rates. Guidance assumes that markets served are not further impacted by the global pandemic or the geo-political environment.

Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and webcast today, November 7, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review its financial and operating results and discuss its corporate strategies and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow. The conference call can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8573. The audio webcast will be available at www.heliostechnologies.com.

A telephonic replay will be available from approximately 12:00 p.m. ET on the day of the call through Monday, November 14, 2022. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13732763. The webcast replay will be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.heliostechnologies.com, where a transcript will also be posted once available.

About Helios Technologies

Helios Technologies is a global leader in highly engineered motion control and electronic controls technology for diverse end markets, including construction, material handling, agriculture, energy, recreational vehicles, marine and health and wellness. Helios sells its products to customers in over 90 countries around the world. Its strategy for growth is to be the leading provider in niche markets, with premier products and solutions through innovative product development and acquisition. The Company has paid a cash dividend to its shareholders every quarter since becoming a public company in 1997. For more information please visit: www.heliostechnologies.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains “forward‐looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward‐looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. They include statements regarding current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, our beliefs, and assumptions made by Helios Technologies, Inc. (“Helios” or the “Company”), its directors or its officers about the Company and the industry in which it operates, and assumptions made by management, and include among other items, (i) the Company’s strategies regarding growth, including its intention to develop new products and make acquisitions; (ii) the effectiveness of creating the Center of Engineering Excellence; (iii) the Company’s financing plans; (iv) trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations; (v) the Company’s ability to continue to control costs and to meet its liquidity and other financing needs; (vi) the declaration and payment of dividends; and (vii) the Company’s ability to respond to changes in customer demand domestically and internationally, including as a result of standardization. In addition, we may make other written or oral statements, which constitute forward-looking statements, from time to time. Words such as “may,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals also are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guaranteeing future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward‐looking statements include, but are not limited to, (i) supply chain disruption and the potential inability to procure goods; (ii) conditions in the capital markets, including the interest rate environment and the availability of capital; (iii) inflation (including hyperinflation) or recession; (iv) changes in the competitive marketplace that could affect the Company’s revenue and/or cost bases, such as increased competition, lack of qualified engineering, marketing, management or other personnel, and increased labor and raw materials costs; (v) risks related to health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks, including, without limitation, the current COVID-19 pandemic, which may among other things, adversely affect our supply chain, material costs, and work force and may have material adverse effects on our business, financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows; (vi) risks related to our international operations, including the potential impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; and (vii) new product introductions, product sales mix and the geographic mix of sales nationally and internationally; (viii) our failure to realize the benefits expected from acquisitions, our failure to promptly and effectively integrate acquisitions and the ability of Helios to retain and hire key personnel, and maintain relationships with suppliers. Further information relating to factors that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated is included but not limited to information under the heading Item 1. “Business” and Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2022.

This news release will discuss some historical non-GAAP financial measures, which the Company believes are useful in evaluating its performance. The determination of the amounts that are excluded from these non-GAAP measures is a matter of management judgment and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income recognized in a given period. You should not consider the inclusion of this additional information in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

This news release also presents forward-looking statements regarding non-GAAP measures. The Company is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because such information is not available, and management cannot reliably predict the necessary components of such GAAP measures without unreasonable effort or expense. In addition, the Company believes that such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on the Company’s 2022 financial results. These non-GAAP financial measures are preliminary estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, changes in connection with quarter-end and year-end adjustments. Any variation between the Company’s actual results and preliminary financial data set forth above may be material.

Financial Tables Follow: