HNI Corporation Reports Earnings for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022

HNI Corporation (“HNI” or the “Corporation”) announced sales for the full year ended December 31, 2022 of $2.362 billion and net income of $123.9 million. GAAP net income per diluted share was $2.94, compared to $1.36 in the prior year. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $2.20, compared to $1.63 in the prior year. GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations follow the financial statements in this release.

Fourth quarter sales of $568.9 million were down 6 percent from year-ago levels, and fourth quarter net income was $16.3 million. GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.39, compared to $0.19 in the prior year, equal to a year-over-year increase of 105 percent. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.63, compared to $0.43 in the prior year.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Strong earnings growth. The Corporation delivered 47 percent year-over-year growth in fourth quarter non-GAAP earnings per share. Improved price-cost and effective expense management increased profit in both segments, and non-GAAP operating profit in the Workplace Furnishings segment more than doubled.
• Solid margin expansion in both segments. For the Corporation overall, non-GAAP gross and operating margins in the fourth quarter expanded 390 basis points and 210 basis points, respectively, on a year-over-year basis. Workplace Furnishings segment non-GAAP operating margin expanded 150 basis points from fourth quarter 2021 levels despite top line pressure from softer economic conditions. Residential Building Products segment operating margin expanded 170 basis points versus the prior-year period to nearly 20 percent.
• Prepared for 2023. Non-GAAP EPS increased 35 percent year-over-year during 2022 despite deteriorating demand conditions in both segments. The Corporation expects continued pressure from lower volumes in 2023 and has taken actions to help mitigate the short-term volume pressure and drive long-term margin improvement. Cost actions announced last quarter, a return of net productivity benefits, and continued improvement of price-cost are expected to provide profitability support in 2023. In addition, the Corporation’s balance sheet remains strong. The gross leverage ratio, as calculated under the Corporation’s lending agreements, ended 2022 at 0.7—providing flexibility for a range of conditions.

“We delivered solid margin expansion and strong earnings growth in both the fourth quarter and the full year of 2022 in a softening demand environment. Our margin expansion initiatives in Workplace Furnishings are delivering results. Second half 2022 operating margin expanded 150 basis points versus the prior-year period despite volume pressures tied to the slowing economy. In our Residential Building Products segment, we delivered profit growth and margin expansion while preparing for softer housing-related demand. Our results in Residential Building Products demonstrate the strength of our differentiated business model,” stated Jeff Lorenger, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

Fourth Quarter Summary Comments

• Consolidated net sales decreased 5.6 percent and organic net sales decreased 1.2 percent from the prior-year quarter: Organic net sales were unfavorably impacted by 4.6 percent due to the restructuring of an eCommerce business. A reconciliation of organic sales, a non-GAAP measure, follows the financial statements in this release.
• Gross profit margin expanded 440 basis points compared to the prior-year quarter, driven by favorable price-cost and lower restructuring costs, partially offset by lower volume and increased operational investments.
• Selling and administrative expenses as a percent of sales increased 230 basis points compared to the prior-year quarter. This increase was driven by lower volume, higher freight costs, and increased investments, partially offset by price realization.
• In the current-year and prior-year quarters, the Corporation incurred costs related to efforts to drive business simplification and improve long-term profitability in the Workplace Furnishings segment. Please refer to non-GAAP reconciliations, which follow the financial statements in this release, for further information on these charges.
• Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.63 compared to $0.43 in the prior-year quarter. The $0.20 increase was primarily driven by favorable price-cost, partially offset by lower volume and increased operational investments.

Full Year Summary Comments

• Consolidated net sales increased 8.1 percent and organic net sales increased 8.5 percent from the prior year: Organic net sales were unfavorably impacted by 5.2 percent due to the restructuring of an eCommerce business.
• Gross profit margin expanded 70 basis points compared to the prior year. This increase was driven by favorable price-cost, partially offset by operational investments and reduced net productivity.
• Selling and administrative expenses as a percent of sales increased 10 basis points compared to the prior year. This increase was driven by lower Workplace Furnishings volume, higher freight costs, and increased investment spend, partially offset by price realization. Current year SG&A included $8.0 million associated with a company-wide $30 million cost reduction initiative announced in the third quarter of 2022, while prior year SG&A included $1.4 million of costs driven by conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In the current year and prior year, the Corporation incurred costs primarily related to efforts to drive business simplification and improve long-term profitability in the Workplace Furnishings segment. Please refer to non-GAAP reconciliations, which follow the financial statements in this release, for further information on these charges.
• A pre-tax gain of $50.4 million was recorded as a corporate item during the current year as a result of the divestiture of the Corporation’s China- and Hong Kong-based Lamex office furniture business in the third quarter 2022.
• Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $2.20, compared to $1.63 in the prior year. The $0.57 increase was driven by favorable price-cost, partially offset by reduced net productivity and higher investment spend.

Fourth Quarter Summary Comments – Workplace Furnishings

• Workplace Furnishings net sales decreased 10.8 percent and organic net sales decreased 3.3 percent from the prior-year quarter: Organic net sales were unfavorably impacted by 7.3 percent due to the restructuring of an eCommerce business.
• Workplace Furnishings GAAP operating profit margin expanded 40 basis points versus the prior-year period. On a non-GAAP basis, segment operating margin expanded 150 basis points driven by favorable price-cost, partially offset by lower volume, the impact of the sale of Lamex, and increased operational investments.

Full Year Summary Comments – Workplace Furnishings

• Workplace Furnishings net sales increased 3.6 percent and organic net sales increased 7.3 percent from the prior year: Organic net sales were unfavorably impacted by 8.2 percent due to the restructuring of an eCommerce business.
• Workplace Furnishings GAAP operating profit margin expanded 20 basis points. On a non-GAAP basis, segment operating margin expanded 60 basis points year-over-year, primarily driven by favorable price-cost and favorable mix, partially offset by increased investments, reduced net productivity, and lower volume.

Fourth Quarter Summary Comments – Residential Building Products

• Residential Building Products net sales increased 4.2 percent from the prior-year quarter to $217.7 million. On an organic basis, sales increased 2.3 percent year-over-year. The acquisition of building products companies in 2021 and 2022 increased sales $3.9 million compared to prior-year quarter.
• Residential Building Products GAAP operating profit margin expanded 100 basis points. On a non-GAAP basis, segment operating profit margin expanded 170 basis points, primarily driven by favorable price-cost, partially offset by higher SG&A and lower volume.

Full Year Summary Comments – Residential Building Products

• Residential Building Products net sales increased 16.7 percent from the prior year to $875.6 million. On an organic basis, sales increased 10.9 percent year-over-year. The acquisition of building product companies in 2021 and 2022 increased sales $43.7 million compared to prior year.
• Residential Building Products GAAP operating profit margin compressed 80 basis points. On a non-GAAP basis, segment operating profit margin compressed 60 basis points, driven by the impact of acquisitions, higher SG&A, and reduced net productivity, partially offset by favorable price-cost and higher volume.

Fourth Quarter Orders

• Excluding impacts from the restructuring of an eCommerce business and the divestiture of Lamex, fourth-quarter orders in Workplace Furnishings grew three percent year-over-year. Orders from small and medium-size customers performed better than orders from contract customers.
• Orders in the Residential Building Products segment decreased 18 percent compared to the prior-year period, during which orders grew 10 percent year-over-year (after normalizing for the extra week in the fourth quarter of 2020).

Fiscal Year 2023 Outlook

• Macro outlook: Broader macroeconomic concerns continue to negatively impact Workplace Furnishings demand. In Residential Building Products, while there are signs of moderating pressures from elevated mortgage rates and decreased home affordability, the Corporation expects these factors to lower volume levels on a year-over-year basis.
• Return to historical seasonality: The Corporation expects earnings seasonality to be more in-line with pre-pandemic trends. This follows three years of abnormal seasonal trends with 2022 seasonality being particularly impacted by backlog dynamics and deteriorating demand. The difference in seasonality between 2023 and 2022 will distort quarterly year-over-year comparisons of sales and profit in 2023. The Corporation expects to generate more than 85 percent of its annual profit in the second half of 2023, compared to 60 percent in the second half of 2022.
• First quarter commentary: The Corporation expects non-GAAP operating income to be approximately breakeven in the first quarter of 2023. This outlook reflects the combination of the seasonally weakest quarter, difficult year-ago comparisons, and the impact of a softening demand environment tied to slowing economic growth.
• Balance Sheet: The Corporation expects to maintain a strong balance sheet throughout 2023. Low leverage and improving free cash flow generation are expected to provide ample capacity for investment, dividend payments, M&A, and share buybacks.

Concluding Remarks

“We expect to drive profit improvement in Workplace Furnishings despite continued volume pressures as our focused margin expansion initiatives continue to gain traction. During 2023, we expect improved productivity, favorable price-cost, and cost actions to more than offset lower volume. Beyond 2023, we are not reliant on volume growth to drive margin expansion in Workplace Furnishings. However, looking ahead, recent mid-market employment and demand trends, feedback from large corporate customers regarding return-to-office plans, and signals from recent migration patterns toward secondary and tertiary geographies all align with our market positions and point to the return of sustained volume growth.

“In Residential Building Products, we are prepared for a slowing near-term demand environment. However, we remain committed to our growth initiatives in the areas of category awareness, new product innovation—including electric, online capabilities, and expansion of our owned installing-distribution footprint. The housing market remains undersupplied, and demographic trends support demand growth. Given the market’s strong fundamentals and our unique growth opportunities, we are bullish about growth in Residential Building Products beyond 2023,” Mr. Lorenger concluded.

For the full fourth quarter results, click here.

About HNI Corporation

HNI Corporation (NYSE: 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