Dow reports fourth quarter 2023 results

MIDLAND, Mich., Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dow (NYSE: DOW):

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• GAAP loss per share was $0.15; operating earnings per share (EPS)¹ was $0.43, compared to $0.46 in the year-ago period and $0.48 in the prior quarter. Operating EPS excludes significant items in the quarter, totaling $0.58 per share, primarily from a one-time non-cash settlement charge aligned to our pension de-risking plans.
• Net sales were $10.6 billion, down 10% versus the year-ago period, reflecting declines in all operating segments due to slower global macroeconomic activity. Sales were down 1% sequentially, as price and volume gains in Packaging & Specialty Plastics were more than offset by seasonal demand declines in Performance Materials & Coatings.
• Volume increased 2% versus the year-ago period, with gains across all regions except Asia Pacific, which was flat. Sequentially, volume decreased by 1%, including the impact to our Bahía Blanca, Argentina site due to a severe, unexpected storm in December.
• Local price decreased 13% year-over-year, with declines in all operating segments, due to lower feedstock and energy costs. Sequentially, local price was flat, reflecting modest gains in most regions.
• Currency increased 1% year-over-year and was flat sequentially.
• Equity losses were $7 million, compared to equity losses of $43 million in the year-ago period, primarily due to improved equity earnings at the Kuwait joint ventures. Sequentially, equity losses were flat.
• GAAP net loss was $95 million. Operating EBIT¹ was $559 million, down $42 million year-over-year, primarily driven by lower prices. Sequentially, Op. EBIT was down $67 million, as gains in Packaging & Specialty Plastics were more than offset by seasonally lower volumes in Performance Materials & Coatings.
• Cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations was $1.6 billion, down $450 million year-over-year and down $30 million compared to the prior quarter. Free cash flow¹ was $870 million.
• Returns to shareholders totaled $616 million in the quarter, including $491 million in dividends and $125 million in share repurchases.
• The Company delivered 2023 full year net sales of $44.6 billion compared to $56.9 billion in 2022. GAAP net income was $660 million, down from $4.6 billion in 2022. Operating EBIT was $2.8 billion, down from $6.6 billion last year. Cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations was $5.2 billion compared to $7.5 billion in 2022. The Company delivered returns to shareholders of $2.6 billion through $2 billion in dividends and $625 million in share repurchases in 2023.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL RESULTS

1. Op. Earnings Per Share, Op. EBIT, Op. EBIT Margin, Op. EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Cash Flow Conversion are non-GAAP measures. See page 5 for further discussion.

CEO QUOTE

Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer, commented on the quarter:

"In the fourth quarter, Team Dow continued to advance our strategic, financial and operational priorities in a challenging and dynamic macroeconomic environment. We saw year-over-year volume improvements in the quarter, delivered our goal of $1 billion in targeted cost actions for the year, and took actions to further de-risk our pension plans. With our continued focus on cash generation, we achieved a cash flow to EBITDA conversion of 96% in 2023, which enabled free cash flow of $870 million and returns to shareholders of $616 million in the quarter. We also hit a key milestone towards advancing our long-term Decarbonize & Grow strategy with the final investment decision for our Path2Zero project in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, where construction will begin this year. The strength of our balance sheet allows us to navigate the bottom of the cycle and have the strength to invest and capitalize on the next upside in the global economy."

SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Packaging & Specialty Plastics

Packaging & Specialty Plastics segment net sales in the quarter were $5.6 billion, down 7% versus the year-ago period. Local price decreased 11% year-over-year, driven by lower prices globally. Currency increased net sales
by 1%. Volume increased 3% year-over-year, led by higher packaging demand, primarily in the U.S. & Canada and Latin America. On a sequential basis, net sales increased by 3% led by higher merchant sales of hydrocarbons, as well as higher polyethylene prices in all regions.

Equity earnings were $40 million, down $16 million compared to the year-ago period and down $10 million on a sequential basis, primarily due to planned maintenance turnaround activity at the Thai joint ventures.

Operating EBIT was $664 million, an increase of $9 million compared to the year-ago period. Sequentially, Op. EBIT increased by $188 million, driven by higher integrated polyethylene margins, the impact of planned maintenance turnaround activity in the third quarter, and higher licensing revenue.                                                         

Packaging and Specialty Plastics business reported a net sales decline versus the year-ago period, as higher demand for industrial and consumer packaging in all regions was more than offset by lower polyethylene prices. Sequentially, net sales increased slightly due to higher polyethylene prices and licensing revenue, which were partially offset by reduced polyethylene supply availability.

Hydrocarbons & Energy business reported a net sales decline compared to the year-ago period, primarily driven by lower third-party power and steam sales in the U.S. & Canada and Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI). Sequentially, net sales increased due to higher merchant olefins and aromatics sales, primarily in the U.S. & Canada.

Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure

Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment net sales were $2.9 billion, down 19% versus the year-ago period. Local price declined 17% year-over-year. Volume was down 2% year-over-year driven by reduced supply availability. On a sequential basis, net sales declined 3% as seasonal increases in deicing fluid demand and volume gains in mobility were more than offset by seasonally lower volumes in building & construction as well as local price declines, primarily in EMEAI.

Equity losses for the segment were $57 million, compared to equity losses of $96 million in the year-ago period, primarily driven by improved equity earnings at the Kuwait joint ventures. Sequentially, equity losses improved by $6 million, primarily driven by improved equity earnings at the Kuwait joint ventures, which were partly offset by reduced equity earnings at Sadara.

Operating EBIT was $15 million, compared to $164 million in the year-ago period, driven by lower local prices in both businesses and reduced supply availability in Industrial Solutions. On a sequential basis, Op. EBIT was down $6 million driven by seasonally lower volumes in building & construction which were partly offset by seasonally higher demand for deicing fluid and higher demand for mobility applications.

Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals business reported a net sales decrease compared to the year-ago period, driven by lower prices in all geographic regions which were partly offset by broad-based business and geographic volume gains. Sequentially net sales declined, driven by lower local prices in EMEAI.

Industrial Solutions business reported a decrease in net sales compared to the year-ago period, driven by reduced supply availability due to a continued outage at Louisiana Operations, lower demand for industrial applications, and local price declines. Sequentially, net sales declined as increased catalyst sales, seasonally higher deicing fluid demand and higher demand for mobility applications were more than offset by volume declines from lower supply availability.

Performance Materials & Coatings

Performance Materials & Coatings segment net sales in the quarter were $1.9 billion, down 8% versus the year-ago period. Local price decreased 12% year-over-year with declines in both businesses. Currency increased net sales by 1%. Volume was up 3% year-over-year, driven by higher volumes in project-driven building & construction end-markets. On a sequential basis, net sales were down 11%, primarily driven by seasonally lower volumes in both businesses.

Operating EBIT was a loss of $61 million, compared to a loss of $130 million in the year-ago period, driven by lower costs as well as reduced planned maintenance turnaround activity. Sequentially, Op. EBIT decreased $240 million, primarily driven by seasonally lower volumes.

Consumer Solutions business reported a decrease in net sales versus the year-ago period, primarily driven by lower siloxanes prices. Sequentially, net sales declined, driven by softer demand and seasonally lower volumes. 

Coatings & Performance Monomers business reported a decrease in net sales compared to the year-ago period, driven by local price declines which were partly offset by higher volumes, primarily in the U.S. & Canada and EMEAI. Sequentially, net sales decreased, driven by seasonally lower volumes in building & construction and traffic paint end-markets.

OUTLOOK

"In 2024, we will maintain our commitment to financial and operational discipline as we continue to navigate dynamic market conditions. While we expect softness in industrial and durable goods demand to continue in the first quarter, we are encouraged by early positive signals in areas including construction, automotive and consumer electronics," said Fitterling. "Our strong balance sheet and cash generation give us the flexibility to cover all of our capital allocation priorities as we progress through the economic cycle and advance our Decarbonize & Grow and Transform the Waste strategies. These projects are expected to deliver more than $3 billion in underlying earnings annually by 2030. Our cost-advantaged footprint, leadership in attractive end markets, and strategic growth investments position the Company well to create long-term value."

Conference Call

Dow will host a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call with investors to discuss its results, business outlook and other matters today at 8:00 a.m. ET. The webcast and slide presentation that accompany the conference call will be posted on the events and presentations page of investors.dow.com.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world's leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements 

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements often address expected future business and financial performance, financial condition, and other matters, and often contain words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "will," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "would" and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words or phrases.

Forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond Dow's control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date the statements were made. These factors include, but are not limited to: sales of Dow's products; Dow's expenses, future revenues and profitability; any global and regional economic impacts of a pandemic or other public health-related risks and events on Dow's business; any sanctions, export restrictions, supply chain disruptions or increased economic uncertainty related to the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East; capital requirements and need for and availability of financing; unexpected barriers in the development of technology, including with respect to Dow's contemplated capital and operating projects; Dow's ability to realize its commitment to carbon neutrality on the contemplated timeframe, including the completion and success of its integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives facility in Alberta, Canada; size of the markets for Dow's products and services and ability to compete in such markets; failure to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Dow's products; significant litigation and environmental matters and related contingencies and unexpected expenses; the success of competing technologies that are or may become available; the ability to protect Dow's intellectual property in the United States and abroad; developments related to contemplated restructuring activities and proposed divestitures or acquisitions such as workforce reduction, manufacturing facility and/or asset closure and related exit and disposal activities, and the benefits and costs associated with each of the foregoing; fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; management of process safety and product stewardship; changes in relationships with Dow's significant customers and suppliers; changes in public sentiment and political leadership; increased concerns about plastics in the environment and lack of a circular economy for plastics at scale; changes in consumer preferences and demand; changes in laws and regulations, political conditions or industry development; global economic and capital markets conditions, such as inflation, market uncertainty, interest and currency exchange rates, and equity and commodity prices; business or supply disruptions; security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East; weather events and natural disasters; disruptions in Dow's information technology networks and systems, including the impact of cyberattacks; and risks related to Dow's separation from DowDuPont Inc. such as Dow's obligation to indemnify DuPont de Nemours, Inc. and/or Corteva, Inc. for certain liabilities.

Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. A detailed discussion of principal risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section titled "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Company's subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These are not the only risks and uncertainties that Dow faces. There may be other risks and uncertainties that Dow is unable to identify at this time or that Dow does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. If any of those risks or uncertainties develops into an actual event, it could have a material adverse effect on Dow's business. Dow Inc. and The Dow Chemical Company ("TDCC") assume no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities and other applicable laws.          

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release includes information that does not conform to GAAP and are considered non-GAAP measures. Management uses these measures internally for planning, forecasting and evaluating the performance of the Company's segments, including allocating resources. Dow's management believes that these non-GAAP measures best reflect the ongoing performance of the Company during the periods presented and provide more relevant and meaningful information to investors as they provide insight with respect to ongoing operating results of the Company and a more useful comparison of year-over-year results. These non-GAAP measures supplement the Company's GAAP disclosures and should not be viewed as alternatives to GAAP measures of performance. Furthermore, such non-GAAP measures may not be consistent with similar measures provided or used by other companies. Non-GAAP measures included in this release are defined below. Reconciliations for these non-GAAP measures to GAAP are provided in the Selected Financial Information and Non-GAAP Measures section starting on page 11. Dow does not provide forward-looking GAAP financial measures or a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis because the Company is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of pending litigation, unusual gains and losses, foreign currency exchange gains or losses and potential future asset impairments, as well as discrete taxable events, without unreasonable effort. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP results for the guidance period.

Operating Earnings Per Share is defined as "Earnings per common share - diluted" excluding the after-tax impact of significant items.

Operating EBIT is defined as earnings (i.e., "Income before income taxes") before interest, excluding the impact of significant items. 

Operating EBIT Margin is defined as Operating EBIT as a percentage of net sales. 

Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings (i.e., "Income before income taxes") before interest, depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of significant items. 

Free Cash Flow is defined as "Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations," less capital expenditures. Under this definition, Free Cash Flow represents the cash generated by the Company from operations after investing in its asset base. Free Cash Flow, combined with cash balances and other sources of liquidity, represent the cash available to fund obligations and provide returns to shareholders. Free Cash Flow is an integral financial measure used in the Company's financial planning process.

Cash Flow Conversion is defined as "Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations," divided by Operating EBITDA. Management believes Cash Flow Conversion is an important financial metric as it helps the Company determine how efficiently it is converting its earnings into cash flow.

Operating Return on Invested Capital ("ROC") is defined as net operating profit after tax, excluding the impact of significant items, divided by total average capital, also referred to as ROIC.

1. Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India.

1. "Income (loss) before income taxes."
2. "Net income (loss) available for Dow Inc. common stockholders." The income tax effect on significant items was calculated based upon the enacted tax laws and statutory income tax rates applicable in the tax jurisdiction(s) of the underlying non-GAAP adjustment.
3. "Earnings per common share - diluted," which includes the impact of participating securities in accordance with the two-class method.
4. Restructuring charges and implementation and efficiency costs associated with the Company's 2023 Restructuring Program, partially offset by a credit from a prior restructuring program.
5. Related to a gain associated with a legal matter with Nova Chemicals Corporation.
6. Foreign currency losses and inventory valuation impacts related to the devaluation of the Argentine peso by the Argentina government in December 2023.
7. Non-cash settlement charges related to the purchase of nonparticipating group annuity contracts for certain Company pension plans in the United States and Canada.
8. Primarily related to charges associated with agreements entered into with DuPont and Corteva as part of the separation and distribution which, among other matters, provides for cross-indemnities and allocations of obligations and liabilities for periods prior to, at and after the completion of the separation.
9. Related to deferred tax assets in a foreign jurisdiction partially offset by an adjustment to certain foreign tax reserves.
10. Includes restructuring charges, asset related charges, and costs associated with implementing the Company's 2020 Restructuring Program.
11. Partial reversal of certain asset related reserves recorded in the first quarter of 2022 related to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
12. Related to a gain associated with a legal matter with Nova Chemicals Corporation and a gain related to an adjustment of the Dow Silicones breast implant liability.

1. "Income before income taxes."
2. "Net income available for Dow Inc. common stockholders." The income tax effect on significant items was calculated based upon the enacted tax laws and statutory income tax rates applicable in the tax jurisdiction(s) of the underlying non-GAAP adjustment.
3. "Earnings per common share - diluted," which includes the impact of participating securities in accordance with the two-class method.
4. Restructuring charges and implementation and efficiency costs associated with the Company's 2023 Restructuring Program, partially offset by a credit from a prior restructuring program. Also includes certain gains and losses associated with previously impaired equity investments.
5. Includes a loss associated with legacy agricultural products groundwater contamination matters, partially offset by a gain associated with a legal matter with Nova Chemicals Corporation.
6. Foreign currency losses and inventory valuation impacts related to the devaluation of the Argentine peso by the Argentina government in December 2023.
7. Non-cash settlement charges related to the purchase of nonparticipating group annuity contracts for certain Company pension plans in the United States and Canada.
8. Primarily related to charges associated with agreements entered into with DuPont and Corteva as part of the separation and distribution which, among other matters, provides for cross-indemnities and allocations of obligations and liabilities for periods prior to, at and after the completion of the separation.
9. Related to deferred tax assets in a foreign jurisdiction partially offset by a remeasurement of uncertain tax positions, and an adjustment to certain foreign tax reserves.
10. Includes restructuring charges, asset related charges, and costs associated with implementing the Company's 2020 Restructuring Program.
11. Asset related charges including inventory write-downs, bad debt reserves, and impairments of other assets related to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
12. Related to a gain associated with a legal matter with Nova Chemicals Corporation and a gain related to an adjustment of the Dow Silicones breast implant liability.

1. "Income before income taxes."
2. "Net income available for Dow Inc. common stockholders." The income tax effect on significant items was calculated based upon the enacted tax laws and statutory income tax rates applicable in the tax jurisdiction(s) of the underlying non-GAAP adjustment.
3. "Earnings per common share - diluted," which includes the impact of participating securities in accordance with the two-class method.
4. Restructuring charges and implementation and efficiency costs associated with the Company's 2023 Restructuring Program.
5. Primarily related to charges associated with agreements entered into with DuPont and Corteva as part of the separation and distribution which, among other matters, provides for cross-indemnities and allocations of obligations and liabilities for periods prior to, at and after the completion of the separation.

1. Cash flow from operations to net income is not applicable for the first and fourth quarters of 2023 due to a net loss for the period.

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SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company