Matthews International Reports Results for Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter

Financial Highlights – 2nd Quarter:

• Record quarterly sales of $417.2 million; 11.3% increase over 2nd quarter last year
• Debt reduction of $42.1 million for the current quarter
• Net income of $5.0 million ($0.16 per share)
• Adjusted net income of $28.8 million ($0.89 per share) vs. $19.8 million ($0.63 per share) for the 2nd quarter last year
• Adjusted EBITDA of $60.9 million compared to $49.4 million a year ago

Financial Highlights – Year-to-Date:

• Year-to-date sales increased $64.1 million (8.7%) compared to last year
• Cash flow from operations of $92.2 million compared to $66.0 million last year
• Debt reduction of $52.1 million for current fiscal year; $183.3 million since March 31, 2020

PITTSBURGH, April 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) today announced financial results for its second quarter of fiscal 2021 and six months ended March 31, 2021.

In discussing the results for the Company’s fiscal 2021 second quarter, Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:

“I am very pleased to report another strong quarter for Matthews. Our consolidated sales, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings per share for the fiscal 2021 second quarter were each higher than the same quarter a year ago, reflecting a significant increase in sales for our Memorialization segment and benefits from our ongoing cost-reduction and productivity initiatives.

“In addition, the Company’s consolidated cash flow from operations for the first six months of this fiscal year was significantly higher than the same period last year reflecting our strong operating performance and emphasis on cash management, which has become a permanent part of our operating mentality. As a result, we further reduced our outstanding debt by $42.1 million during the recent quarter. Over the past 12 months (since March 31, 2020), we have reduced our outstanding debt by $183.3 million.

“Sales for the Memorialization segment for the current quarter were $205.5 million, compared to $161.8 million for the same quarter a year ago, representing an increase of $43.7 million, or 27.0%. The segment’s sales growth predominantly resulted from increased sales of caskets due to COVID-19. In addition, sales of cremation equipment, mausoleums and cemetery memorial products also increased from the same quarter a year ago.

“Despite the ongoing impact of the pandemic, particularly in our retail-based markets, sales for the SGK Brand Solutions segment were relatively stable for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to a year ago. Although our retail-based sales (principally merchandising solutions and private label brand market sales), were lower for the current quarter, the segment generated higher sales of purpose-built engineered products. The increase in engineered products sales was primarily attributable to our energy storage business, which has seen significant order growth and market interest.

“The Industrial Technologies segment reported sales for the fiscal 2021 second quarter of $40.7 million, compared to $40.1 million a year ago, primarily reflecting sales growth in the segment’s warehouse automation business. Incoming orders for our warehouse automation solutions remained very strong, but access to job sites to complete these orders continues to be constrained.

“I continue to be extremely proud of our employees and want to thank them for their efforts during this pandemic. Our strong performance under these challenging conditions is the result of their hard work and dedication. The safety of our employees remains the top priority of our Board and leadership team.”

Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Consolidated Results (Unaudited)

Consolidated sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 were $417.2 million, compared to $374.8 million for the same quarter a year ago, representing an increase of $42.4 million, or 11.3%. The increase primarily reflected higher sales in the Memorialization segment. Changes in foreign currency rates were estimated to have a favorable impact of $9.4 million on fiscal 2021 consolidated sales compared to a year ago.

Net income attributable to the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $5.0 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to a net loss of $86.4 million, or $2.77 per share in the prior year. GAAP earnings for both periods continued to be impacted by the accelerated amortization of certain intangible assets in the SGK Brand Solutions segment. Net loss for the prior year reflected a goodwill write down.

On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, earnings for the fiscal 2021 second quarter were $0.89 per share, compared to $0.63 per share a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA (net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other adjustments) for the fiscal 2021 second quarter was $60.9 million, compared to $49.4 million a year ago, representing an increase of $11.5 million. These increases were primarily driven by higher sales in the Memorialization segment as well as benefits from the Company's cost-reduction initiatives and lower travel and entertainment expenses. See reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share below.

Fiscal 2021 Year-to-Date Consolidated Results (Unaudited)

Consolidated sales for the six months ended March 31, 2021 were $803.8 million, compared to $739.7 million a year ago, representing an increase of $64.1 million, or 8.7%. The increase in fiscal 2021 sales reflected higher sales in the Memorialization segment, partially offset by lower sales in the SGK Brand Solutions segment. Changes in foreign currency rates were estimated to have a favorable impact of $14.1 million on fiscal 2021 consolidated sales compared to a year ago.

Net income attributable to the Company for the first six months of fiscal 2021 was $3.2 million, or $0.10 per share, compared to a net loss of $96.8 million, or $3.11 per share in the prior year. GAAP earnings for both periods were impacted by the accelerated amortization of certain intangible assets in the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and charges related to the Company's cost-reduction initiatives. Prior year net loss also reflected a goodwill write down.

On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, earnings for the first six months of fiscal 2021 were $1.57 per share, compared to $1.10 per share a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months of fiscal 2021 was $115.7 million, compared to $89.6 million a year ago, representing an increase of $26.1 million. These increases were primarily driven by higher sales in the Memorialization segment as well as benefits from the Company's cost-reduction initiatives and lower travel and entertainment expenses. See reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share below.

Outlook

Mr. Bartolacci further stated: “We remain cautiously optimistic regarding the balance of fiscal 2021. As COVID-19 subsides, we are already beginning to see recovery in many of our businesses. As expected, casket sales are anticipated to decline from the pandemic-impacted comparable months a year ago and recent increases in commodity costs such as steel, lumber and copper are expected to impact the coming quarters. However, the improvements in our other businesses are currently expected to lessen these impacts.

“Within the Memorialization segment, cemetery products sales have been constrained throughout the pandemic due to local stay-at-home orders limiting families’ access to cemeteries. We are already beginning to see these order rates returning to higher than normal levels. For the Industrial Technologies segment, order rates have increased recently for the product identification business and remain strong for warehouse solutions. In the SGK Brand Solutions segment, we continue to win new accounts and are beginning to see increasing order rates in the retail-based business. In addition, the energy storage business within our Saueressig subsidiary continues to grow significantly. Lastly, our cost-reduction initiatives have produced realized savings for the Company and are expected to generate additional benefits in future periods.

“Cash flow management efforts will continue to be a priority for the remainder of the fiscal year. Accordingly, we expect continued solid operating cash flow and additional debt reduction during the remainder of the fiscal year.”

Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, April 30, 2021 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) 689-8471. The audio webcast can be monitored at www.matw.com. A telephonic replay will be available from 12:00 p.m. ET on the day of the teleconference call until Friday, May 14, 2021. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter the conference ID number 13718772. The webcast replay will be available on the Company’s website at www.matw.com, where a transcript will also be posted once available.

About Matthews International Corporation

Matthews International Corporation is a global provider of brand solutions, memorialization products and industrial technologies. The SGK Brand Solutions segment is a leader in providing brand development, deployment and delivery services that help build our clients’ brands and consumers’ desire for them. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products, including memorials, caskets and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. The Industrial Technologies segment designs, manufactures and distributes marking, coding and industrial automation technologies and solutions. The Company has approximately 11,000 employees in more than 25 countries on six continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services.

Forward-looking Information

Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from management’s expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions, cybersecurity concerns, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, such as coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by GAAP. The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing its performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company’s core operations including acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, strategic initiative and other charges (which includes non-recurring charges related to operational initiatives and exit activities), stock-based compensation and the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense. Management believes that presenting non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, forecast, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s results. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provided herein, provide investors with an additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company’s business that could not be obtained absent these disclosures.

Released April 29, 2021