HNI Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Delivered strong second quarter EPS, GAAP $0.75 / non-GAAP $0.79 (+44% YoY).

Expanded operating margins in Workplace Furnishings +750 bps GAAP / +370 bps non-GAAP YoY.

Net sales growth expected to return in both segments during the second half of 2024.

2024 EPS expected to deliver strong growth and reach an all-time high.

Elevated earnings growth visibility extends beyond 2024 from initiatives already underway.

HNI Corporation announced net sales for the second quarter ended June 29, 2024 of $623.7 million and net income of $36.0 million.

Highlights

• Strong earnings growth. Second quarter GAAP earnings per share totaled $0.75. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.79 was a record for the second quarter driven by continued operating margin expansion in Workplace Furnishings, strong accretion from Kimball International (“KII”), and profit growth in Residential Building Products. Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliations follow the financial statements in this release.
• Expecting return of revenue growth. For the second half of 2024, Workplace Furnishings net sales are expected to increase at a low-single digit rate year-over-year. Residential Building Products net sales are projected to grow at a mid-single digit pace versus the same period in 2023. Year-over-year trends in both segments are expected to improve from the third quarter to the fourth quarter.
• Anticipating record earnings per share for 2024. Third consecutive year of non-GAAP EPS growth to be driven by continued profit transformation in Workplace Furnishings, benefits from KII, and profit enhancement in Residential Building Products.
• Elevated visibility beyond 2024. KII synergies, including savings associated with the recently announced manufacturing network optimization initiative, and the ramp of the Corporation’s new facility in Mexico are expected to yield total net savings of $70 to $75 million. Approximately $45 to $50 million of the benefit will impact 2025 and 2026.
• Strong balance sheet. Gross leverage was 1.5x, as calculated in accordance with the Corporation’s debt agreements. That ratio was down from 1.9x in the first quarter due to higher profit and modestly lower debt. The Corporation also accelerated stock repurchase activity in the quarter.

“Our members again demonstrated the organization’s ability to drive strong profit growth. We delivered non-GAAP EPS that was 44 percent higher than the prior-year period, reaching a record level for the second quarter.

“The combination of our profit transformation initiatives and the Kimball International acquisition continue to deliver strong earnings growth in the Workplace Furnishings segment. These efforts drove segment operating profit margin to a multi-decade high for the second quarter. Notably, these results have been achieved without support from the economic cycle.

“In Residential Building Products, profit dollars and margin were up year-over-year despite ongoing housing market weakness. Longer-term, we remain bullish about the prospects of the housing market, broadly, and our market-leading position, specifically.

“Overall, our strategies, our dedicated member-owners, the strength of our customer-first business model, and our proven ability to manage through all parts of the economic cycle are delivering excellent results,” stated Jeff Lorenger, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

HNI Corporation — Second Quarter Summary Comments

• Consolidated net sales increased 10.7 percent from the prior-year quarter to $623.7 million. On an organic basis, net sales decreased 3.0 percent year-over-year. The acquisition of KII increased year-over-year net sales by $80.5 million. The divestiture of KII’s Poppin business in the third quarter of 2023 decreased year-over-year sales by $3.4 million. A reconciliation of organic net sales, a non-GAAP measure, to net sales follows the financial statements in this release.
• Gross profit margin expanded 360 basis points compared to the prior-year quarter. This increase was driven by improved net productivity and the impact of the KII acquisition.
• Selling and administrative expenses as a percent of sales decreased 440 basis points compared to the prior-year quarter. The decrease was driven by $31.3 million of non-repeating KII acquisition-related fees and expenses incurred in the prior-year quarter and improved freight and distribution productivity, partially offset by lower organic volume and elevated healthcare costs.
• Restructuring and impairment charges of $2.0 million were incurred in the current quarter primarily in connection with a Workplace Furnishings factory consolidation initiative. $8.1 million of charges were incurred in the prior-year quarter mainly related to the exit of the Poppin business.
• Net income per diluted share increased from the prior-year quarter driven by the net impact of the KII acquisition, including related transaction fees, and improved net productivity, partially offset by lower organic volume and elevated healthcare costs.
• Workplace Furnishings net sales increased 16.3 percent from the prior-year quarter to $480.2 million. Organic net sales decreased 2.4 percent year-over-year. The impact of the KII acquisition increased sales by $80.5 million over the prior-year quarter. The divestiture of KII’s Poppin business in the third quarter of 2023 decreased year-over-year sales by $3.4 million.
• Workplace Furnishings operating margin of 11.3 percent improved 750 basis points versus the prior-year quarter, driven by improved net productivity, favorable impacts from KII and the divestiture of Poppin, and $10.3 million of non-repeating KII acquisition-related fees and expenses incurred in the prior-year quarter. Second quarter non-GAAP operating profit margin was 11.9 percent, an improvement of 370 basis points year-over-year.
• Residential Building Products net sales decreased 4.6 percent from the prior-year quarter to $143.5 million primarily due to housing market weakness with remodel/retrofit sales declining at a higher rate than new construction.
• Residential Building Products operating profit margin of 13.8 percent increased 350 basis points year-over-year driven by improved net productivity, favorable product mix, and lower core SG&A, partially offset by lower sales volume.

Second Quarter Order Rates

• In the Workplace Furnishings segment, orders were approximately flat compared to the prior-year period on an organic basis. Orders from small-to-medium sized customers outpaced orders from contract customers.
• Orders in the Residential Building Products segment decreased four percent compared to the second quarter of 2023. Changes in the Corporation’s pre-season, early order program negatively impacted the second quarter order rate. Excluding the early order program, normalized second quarter orders in the segment grew four percent year-over-year, which the Corporation believes is more indicative of demand conditions.

Outlook

• Demand environment. For the second half of 2024, Workplace Furnishings net sales are expected to increase at a low-single digit rate year-over-year. This Workplace outlook represents a modest reduction from the outlook provided in the previous earnings release and primarily reflects timing in the contract space. Second-half Residential Building Products net sales are projected to grow at a mid-single digit pace versus the same period in 2023. Year-over-year trends in both segments are expected to improve from the third quarter to the fourth quarter.
• 2024 outlook commentary. Full-year non-GAAP earnings per share are expected to increase strongly from 2023 and reach record levels. Continued improvement in the second half is expected to be driven by margin expansion in both Workplace Furnishings and Residential Building Products.
• Elevated earnings growth visibility beyond 2024. The Corporation expects $70 to $75 million of savings associated with KII synergies (approximately $50 million) and the ramp of its Mexico facility ($20 to $25 million). Both initiatives are currently underway and provide strong visibility to future earnings growth with an estimated $45 to $50 million of the savings benefiting the 2025 to 2026 period.

Concluding Remarks

“Our strategies continue to drive outstanding earnings growth, and our teams delivered excellent results in the first half of 2024. In Workplace Furnishings, our profit transformation initiatives pushed margins to multi-decade highs. Adding to our momentum, workplace demand is beginning to turn. We expect revenue growth in the second half of the year, which, when combined with our transformation efforts, will drive continued year-over-year profit growth and margin improvement.

“Looking beyond 2024, we have clear line-of-sight to $45 to $50 million of incremental benefit driven by the ongoing integration of Kimball International and the maturing efficiency of our new facility in Mexico.

“In Residential Building Products, we remain bullish about the intermediate and long-term dynamics of our business, and we expect revenue growth to return in the back half of 2024. We remain uniquely positioned to drive high-margin growth as housing stabilizes.

“Our core strategies are unchanged. We will continue to deliver margin expansion in Workplace Furnishings and drive long-term revenue growth in Residential Building Products,” concluded Mr. Lorenger.

For the full second quarter results, click here.

About HNI Corporation

HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI) has been improving where people live, work, and gather for more than 75 years. HNI is a manufacturer of workplace furnishings and residential building products, operating under two segments. The Workplace Furnishings segment is a leading global designer and provider of commercial furnishings, going to market under multiple unique brands. The Residential Building Products segment is the nation’s leading manufacturer and marketer of hearth products, which include a full array of gas, electric, wood, and pellet-burning fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings, and accessories. More information can be found on the Corporation’s website at www.hnicorp.com.

Contact:

Marshall H. Bridges – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer – (563) 272-7400

Source: HNI Corporation