QUAKER HOUGHTON ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2024 RESULTS

• Q4'24 net sales of $444.1 million, net income of $14.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.81
• Q4'24 non-GAAP net income of $23.6 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.33
• Full year net sales of $1.84 billion, net income of $116.6 million and earnings per diluted share of $6.51
• Full year non-GAAP net income of $133.5 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $7.44
• Delivered Q4'24 and full year adjusted EBITDA of $64.8 million and $310.9 million, respectively
• Generated operating cash flow of $204.6 million in 2024; completed two strategic acquisitions; and returned $82.4 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Houghton ("the Company") (NYSE: KWR), the global leader in industrial process fluids, announced its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results today.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Consolidated Results

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 were $444.1 million, a decrease of 5% compared to $467.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. This result was due to a decrease in selling price and product mix of approximately 4%, an unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation of 2%, and a decline in organic sales volumes of approximately 1%, partially offset by 2% increase in sales from acquisitions. Selling price and product mix declined due to the impact of index-based customer contracts and mix of products and services whereas the decline in organic sales volumes reflect a continuation of soft end market conditions, partially offset by new business wins in all segments.

The Company reported net income in the fourth quarter of 2024 of $14.2 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to $20.2 million or $1.12 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023. As described in further detail in the Non-GAAP section below, excluding non-recurring and non-core items in each period, the Company's fourth quarter of 2024 non-GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share were $23.6 million and $1.33 respectively compared to $31.9 million and $1.78 respectively in the prior year period. The Company generated adjusted EBITDA of $64.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of approximately 16% compared to $77.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily driven by the decline in sales and operating margins.

Joseph A. Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "In 2024, Quaker Houghton improved its profitability and generated strong cash flow, while managing through a challenging macro environment.  New business wins across all regions, and especially Asia/Pacific, helped mitigate the impact of lower end market demand, primarily in the Americas and EMEA segments.  Our business model and balance sheet are strong, and in 2024 we returned approximately $80 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases while also investing for growth.  I want to thank our Quaker Houghton employees for their dedication to our customers and their committed execution on our strategic initiatives."

"Looking ahead, our priorities are to deliver sustained growth and share gains by advancing our enterprise strategy, refocusing the organization around our unique customer intimate model and effectively allocating capital.  We are taking additional steps to reduce complexity which are expected to deliver run-rate cost savings of at least $20 million in 2025.  We anticipate these actions will enhance our operational efficiency, improve our competitiveness, and better leverage our global scale.  Executing on our strategic initiatives will enable us to begin to unlock Quaker Houghton's full potential and we expect to deliver revenue, adjusted EBITDA and earnings growth in 2025."

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Segment Results

The Company's fourth quarter and full year 2024 operating performance of each of its three reportable segments: (i) Americas; (ii) EMEA; and (iii) Asia/Pacific are further described below.

The following table summarizes the sales variances by reportable segment and consolidated operations in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023:

Net sales in the Americas segment declined in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to same quarter in 2023 primarily as a result of a decline in selling price and product mix, an unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation and a modest decline in sales volumes.  Net sales in the EMEA segment declined in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to same quarter in 2023 due to a decline in organic sales volumes and a decline in selling price and product mix, partially offset by the contribution from the acquisition of I.K.V. Tribologie IKVT ("IKV"). Net sales in the Asia/Pacific segment increased in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to same quarter in 2023 due to an increase in sales volumes and a contribution from the acquisition of the Sutai Group ("Sutai"), partially offset by a decline in selling price and product mix.

The decline in selling price and product mix in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period reflects the impact of our index-based customer contracts as well as mix of products and services. Sales volumes increased in the Asia/Pacific segment primarily due to continued new business wins and a modest improvement in demand. Volumes declined in the Americas and EMEA segments in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period primarily due to weaker end market conditions, partially offset by new business wins.

Compared to the third quarter of 2024, total company sales decreased approximately 4% due to a decline in selling price and product mix of 2%, a decline in sales volumes of 1% and an unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation of 1%. Net sales, sales volumes and selling price and product mix all declined in the Americas and EMEA segments, due to normal seasonal trends and a further softening of market conditions, but increased in the Asia/Pacific segment. All segments had an unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter of 2024.

Operating earnings and operating margins declined in all three segments in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. For the full year 2024, operating earnings increased in the Asia/Pacific segment and declined in Americas and EMEA segments compared to the prior year. Operating margins increased in Americas and EMEA segments and declined slightly in the Asia/Pacific segment in the full year 2024 compared to the prior year.

Cash Flow and Liquidity Highlights

Net cash provided by operating activities was $204.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $279.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The higher operating cash flow in the prior year was primarily a result of a higher inflow of working capital as the company reduced its inventory levels.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company's total gross debt was $708.3 million and its cash and cash equivalents was $188.9 million, which resulted in net debt of $519.4 million. The Company's net debt divided by its trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA was approximately 1.7x. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased 174,909 shares for approximately $26.3 million. In the full year of 2024, the Company repurchased 312,997 shares for approximately $49.2 million. In 2024, the Company returned approximately $82.4 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations

The information in this press release includes non-GAAP (unaudited) financial information that includes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information as they enhance a reader's understanding of the financial performance of the Company, facilitate a comparison among fiscal periods, and exclude items that management believes are not indicative of future operating performance or core to the Company's operations. Non-GAAP results are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our definitions of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per share, as discussed and reconciled below to the most comparable GAAP measures, may not be comparable to similarly named measures reported by other companies.

The Company presents EBITDA which is calculated as net income attributable to the Company before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income before equity in net income of associated companies. The Company also presents adjusted EBITDA, which is calculated as EBITDA plus or minus certain items that management believes are not indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations. In addition, the Company presents non-GAAP operating income which is calculated as operating income plus or minus certain items that management believes are not indicative of future operating performance or considers core to the Company's operations. Adjusted EBITDA margin and non-GAAP operating margin are calculated as the percentage of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP operating income to consolidated net sales, respectively. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide transparent and useful information and are widely used by analysts, investors, and competitors in our industry as well as by management in assessing the operating performance of the Company on a consistent basis.

Additionally, the Company presents non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share as additional performance measures. Non-GAAP net income is calculated as adjusted EBITDA, defined above, less depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income before equity in net income of associated companies, in each case adjusted, as applicable, for any depreciation, amortization, interest or tax impacts resulting from the non-core items identified in the reconciliation of net income attributable to the Company to adjusted EBITDA. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share is calculated as non-GAAP net income per diluted share as accounted for under the "two-class share method." The Company believes that non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share provide transparent and useful information and are widely used by analysts, investors, and competitors in our industry as well as by management in assessing the performance of the Company on a consistent basis.

As it relates to future projections for the Company as well as other forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has not provided guidance for comparable GAAP measures or a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure because it is unable to determine with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain significant items necessary to calculate such measures without unreasonable effort. These items include, but are not limited to, certain non-recurring or non-core items the Company may record that could materially impact net income. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on the U.S. GAAP reported results for the guidance period.

The Company's reference to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA within this press release refers to the twelve month period ended December 31, 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $310.9 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations below.

Certain of the prior period non-GAAP financial measures presented in the following tables have been adjusted to conform with current period presentation. The following tables reconcile the Company's non-GAAP financial measures (unaudited) to their most directly comparable GAAP (unaudited) financial measures (dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted, except per share amounts):

Segment Measures and Reconciliations

Segment operating earnings for each of the Company's reportable segments are comprised of the segment's net sales less directly related product costs and other operating expenses. Operating expenses not directly attributable to the net sales of each respective segment, such as certain corporate and administrative costs and restructuring charges, are not included in segment operating earnings. Other items not specifically identified with the Company's reportable segments include Interest expense, net and Other (expense) income, net.

The following table presents information about the performance of the Company's reportable segments (dollars in thousands):

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that fall under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We have based these forward-looking statements on assumptions, projections and expectations about future events that we believe are reasonable based on currently available information, including statements regarding the potential effects of economic downturns; tariffs, including uncertainty surrounding changes in tariffs; inflation and global supply chain constraints on the Company's business, results of operations, and financial condition; our expectation that we will maintain sufficient liquidity and remain in compliance with the terms of the Company's credit facility; expectations about future demand and raw material costs; and statements regarding the impact of increased raw material costs and pricing initiatives. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance, and business, which may differ materially from our actual results, including but not limited to the potential benefits of acquisitions and divestitures, the impacts on our business as a result of global supply chain constraints, and our current and future results and plans and statements that include the words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "outlook, "target", "possible", "potential", "plan" or similar expressions. Such statements include information relating to current and future business activities, operational matters, capital spending, and financing sources. A major risk is that demand for the Company's products and services is largely derived from the demand for its customers' products, which subjects the Company to uncertainties related to downturns in a customer's business and unanticipated customer production slowdowns and shutdowns. Other major risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to inflationary pressures, including increases in raw material costs; supply chain constraints and the impacts of economic downturns; customer financial instability; high interest rates and their impact on our and our customers' business operations; the impacts from acts of war, terrorism and military conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as economic, political and governmental actions taken by various governments and governmental organizations in response; economic and political disruptions particularly in light of numerous elections globally and the possibility of regime changes; the possibility of economic recession; legislative and regulatory developments including changes to existing laws and regulations, or the way they are interpreted, applied or enforced; tariffs, trade restrictions, and the economic and other sanctions imposed by other nations on Russia and Belarus and/or other government organizations; suspensions of activities in Russia by many multinational companies; foreign currency fluctuations; significant changes in applicable tax rates and regulations; future terrorist attacks and other acts of violence; the impacts of consolidation in our industry, including loss or consolidation of a major customer, the effects of climate change, fires, or other natural disasters; and the potential occurrence of cyber-security breaches, cyber-security attacks and other technology outages and security incidents. Furthermore, the Company is subject to the same business cycles as those experienced by our customers in the steel, automobile, aircraft, industrial equipment, aluminum and durable goods industries. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company and its operations that are subject to change based on various important factors, some of which are beyond our control. These risks, uncertainties, and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. All forward-looking statements included in this press release, including expectations about business conditions during 2024 and future periods, are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, which may change. Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as certain additional risks that we face, refer to the Risk Factors section, which appears in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in subsequent reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to, and we disclaim any duty or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or for any other reason. This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company's investor conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 performance is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET. A live webcast of the conference call, together with supplemental information, can be accessed through the Company's Investor Relations website at investors.quakerhoughton.com. You can also access the conference call by dialing 877-269-7756.

About Quaker Houghton

Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,400 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more.

SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation