Whirlpool Announces First-Quarter Results; Significant Portfolio Transformation Milestone

-- Europe transaction closed on April 1st; expected to deliver $750M+ net present value of future cash flows and $250-$300M incremental cash flow in 2025

-- Strong Q1 performance from Latin America, Asia, and SDA Global driven by share gains and cost performance, offset by challenging macro environment in North America, as expected

-- Announced ~5% increase to all promotional program prices in MDA North America

-- Declared $1.75 dividend per share in both Q1 & Q2; repaid $500 million of term loan in April

-- Q1 GAAP net earnings margin of (5.8)% compared to prior year period of (3.9)%, impacted by a non-cash charge related to the Europe transaction; GAAP loss per diluted share of $(4.72)

-- Ongoing (non-GAAP) EBIT margin⁽¹⁾ of 4.3%; ongoing earnings per diluted share⁽²⁾ of $1.78

-- Expect full-year GAAP earnings per diluted share of $5.00 to $7.00 impacted by the non-cash charge related to the Europe transaction

-- Reaffirming full-year ongoing earnings per diluted share⁽²⁾ of $13.00 to $15.00, cash provided by operating activities of $1.15 to $1.25 billion and free cash flow⁽³⁾ of $550 to $650 million

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR), today reported first-quarter 2024 financial results.

"The closing of the Europe transaction marks a critical portfolio transformation milestone," said Marc Bitzer. "We saw strong performance in Global SDA as well as our international businesses, and announced promotional program price increases in MDA North America consistent with the value of our products and brands to address sticky inflation."  
MARC BITZER, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

"During 2024, we have demonstrated our commitment to our capital allocation priorities," said Jim Peters. "We have launched several new products, declared very strong dividends in Q1 and Q2, and repaid $500 million of our maturing term loan."   
JIM PETERS, CHIEF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER     

SEGMENT REVIEW

MDA NORTH AMERICA

• Excluding currency, net sales decline of 8.1 percent year-over-year from unfavorable price/mix and industry decline of approximately 2 percent
• EBIT margin⁽⁴⁾ decreased compared to the same prior-year period, driven by promotional environment partially offset by cost take out actions

MDA EUROPE

• Excluding currency, net sales decline of 6.9 percent year-over-year, impacted by continued demand weakness in Europe
• EBIT margin⁽⁴⁾ decreased compared to the same prior-year period, driven by unfavorable price/mix

MDA LATIN AMERICA

• Excluding currency, net sales increase of 8.4 percent year-over-year, with strong share gains in the region more than offsetting unfavorable price/mix
• EBIT margin⁽⁴⁾ increased compared to the same prior-year period, driven by incremental volumes and cost actions; Q1 includes approximately 200 bps operating tax benefit

MDA ASIA

• Excluding currency, net sales decrease of 1.7 percent year-over-year, with increased volumes from share gains more than offset by unfavorable price/mix
• EBIT margin⁽⁴⁾ increased compared to the same prior-year period, driven by cost take out actions partially offset by negative price/mix

SDA GLOBAL

• Excluding currency, net sales increase of 6.5 percent year-over-year, with growth throughout key countries and direct to consumer business more than offsetting unfavorable price/mix
• EBIT margin⁽⁴⁾ increased compared to the same period, driven by cost actions and volume growth

FULL-YEAR2024 OUTLOOK

• Europe transaction closed April 1, 2024, as expected, and full year guidance includes MDA Europe first-quarter net sales of $804 million and EBIT of (1.1)%
• Reaffirming full-year 2024 net sales expectations of approximately $16.9 billion
• Full-year GAAP earnings per diluted share of $5.00 to $7.00 impacted by non-cash charge related to the Europe transaction
• Reaffirming full-year ongoing earnings per diluted share⁽²⁾ of $13.00 to $15.00, including $300-$400 million of cost actions
• Reaffirming full-year cash provided by operating activities of $1.15 to $1.25 billion and free cash flow⁽³⁾ of approximately $550 to $650 million; includes approximately $200 million of MDA Europe cash usage in 2024
• Expect full-year 2024 GAAP tax rate of approximately 25 percent and adjusted (non-GAAP) tax rate of approximately 0 percent
• Continue to expect to pay approximately $400 million of 2024 dividends (subject to board approval)

ABOUT WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with our brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2023, the company reported approximately $19 billion in annual net sales, 59,000 employees and 55 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.  

WEBSITE DISCLOSURE

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, WhirlpoolCorp.com, in the "Investors" section. We also intend to update the "Hot Topics Q&A" portion of this webpage as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the "Investors" section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our webpage is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

WHIRLPOOL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This document contains forward-looking statements about Whirlpool Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Whirlpool") within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Whirlpool intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our 2024 financial performance, supply chain, cost take out, raw material, portfolio transformation, transaction-related synergies, benefits from previously announced actions and future cash flow expectations are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Such statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "may," "could," "will," "should," "possible," "plan," "predict," "forecast," "potential," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "may impact," "on track," "margin lift," and similar words or expressions. Many risks, contingencies and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from Whirlpool's forward-looking statements. Among these factors are: Among these factors are: (1) intense competition in the home appliance industry, and the impact of the changing retail environment, including direct-to-consumer sales; (2) Whirlpool's ability to maintain or increase sales to significant trade customers; (3) Whirlpool's ability to maintain its reputation and brand image; (4) the ability of Whirlpool to achieve its business objectives and leverage its global operating platform, and accelerate the rate of innovation; (5) Whirlpool's ability to understand consumer preferences and successfully develop new products; (6) Whirlpool's ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights; (7) acquisition, divestiture, and investment-related risks, including risks associated with our past acquisitions; (8) the ability of suppliers of critical parts, components and manufacturing equipment to deliver sufficient quantities to Whirlpool in a timely and cost-effective manner; (9) COVID-19 pandemic, other public health emergency-related business disruptions and economic uncertainty; (10) Whirlpool's ability to navigate risks associated with our presence in emerging markets; (11) risks related to our international operations; (12) Whirlpool's ability to respond to unanticipated social, political and/or economic events; (13) information technology system failures, data security breaches, data privacy compliance, network disruptions, and cybersecurity attacks; (14) product liability and product recall costs; (15) Whirlpool's ability to attract, develop and retain executives and other qualified employees; (16) the impact of labor relations; (17) fluctuations in the cost of key materials (including steel, resins, base metals) and components and the ability of Whirlpool to offset cost increases; (18) Whirlpool's ability to manage foreign currency fluctuations; (19) impacts from goodwill impairment and related charges; (20) triggering events or circumstances impacting the carrying value of our long-lived assets; (21) inventory and other asset risk; (22) health care cost trends, regulatory changes and variations between results and estimates that could increase future funding obligations for pension and postretirement benefit plans; (23) litigation, tax, and legal compliance risk and costs; (24) the effects and costs of governmental investigations or related actions by third parties; (25) changes in the legal and regulatory environment including environmental, health and safety regulations, data privacy, and taxes and tariffs; (26) Whirlpool's ability to respond to the impact of climate change and climate change regulation; and (27) the uncertain global economy and changes in economic conditions. Price increases and/or actions referred to throughout the document reflect previously announced cost-based price increases. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Whirlpool's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. Price increases and/or actions referred to throughout the document reflect previously announced cost-based price increases. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and the forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release.  We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES 
(Millions of dollars except per share data) (Unaudited)

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, some of which we refer to as "ongoing" measures. These measures may include earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), EBIT margin, ongoing EBIT, ongoing EBIT margin, ongoing earnings per diluted share, adjusted effective tax rate, organic net sales, net debt leverage (Net Debt/Ongoing EBITDA), return on invested capital (ROIC) and free cash flow.

Ongoing measures exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing operations and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses.

Sales excluding foreign currency: Current period net sales translated in functional currency, to U.S. dollars using the applicable prior period's exchange rate compared to the applicable prior period net sales. Management believes that sales excluding foreign currency provides stockholders with a clearer basis to assess our results over time, excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations.
Organic net sales: Sales excluding the impact of certain acquisitions or divestitures, and foreign currency. Management believes that organic net sales provides stockholders with a clearer basis to assess our results over time, excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations and certain acquisitions and/or divestitures.
Ongoing EBIT margin: Ongoing earnings before interest and taxes divided by net sales. Ongoing measures exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing operations and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses.
Ongoing earnings per diluted share: Diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing operations. Ongoing measures provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses.
Net debt leverage: Net debt to ongoing earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) ratio is net debt outstanding, including long-term debt, current maturities of long-term debt, and notes payable, less cash and cash equivalents, divided by ongoing EBITDA. Management believes that net debt leverage provides stockholders with a view of our ability to generate earnings sufficient to service our debt.
Return on invested capital: Ongoing EBIT after taxes divided by total invested capital, defined as total assets less non-interest bearing current liabilities (NIBCLS). NIBCLS is defined as current liabilities less current maturities of long-term debt and notes payable. This ROIC definition may differ from other companies' methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. Management believes that ROIC provides stockholders with a view of capital efficiency, a key driver of stockholder value creation.
Adjusted effective tax rate: Effective tax rate, excluding pre-tax income and tax effect of certain unique items. Management believes that adjusted tax rate provides stockholders with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company's effective tax rate, excluding the pre-tax income and tax effect of certain unique items.
Free cash flow: Cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures. Management believes that free cash flow provides stockholders with a relevant measure of liquidity and a useful basis for assessing the company's ability to fund its activities and obligations.

Whirlpool does not provide a non-GAAP reconciliation for its forward-looking long-term value creation goals, such as organic net sales, EBIT, free cash flow conversion, future year free cash flow benefit as a result of Europe transaction closing, ROIC and net debt leverage, as these long-term management goals are not annual guidance, and the reconciliation of these long-term measures would rely on market factors and certain other conditions and assumptions that are outside of the company's control.

We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to assist investors and stockholders in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance, and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of our business. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These ongoing financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported net earnings available to Whirlpool per diluted share, net earnings, net earnings available to Whirlpool, net earnings margin, return on assets, net sales, effective tax rate and cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

We also disclose segment EBIT as an important financial metric used by the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker to evaluate performance and allocate resources in accordance with ASC 280 - Segment Reporting.

GAAP net earnings available to Whirlpool per basic or diluted share (as applicable) and ongoing earnings per diluted share are presented net of tax, while individual adjustments in each reconciliation are presented on a pre-tax basis; the income tax impact line item aggregates the tax impact for these adjustments. The tax impact of individual line item adjustments may not foot precisely to the aggregate income tax impact amount, as each line item adjustment may include non-taxable components. Historical quarterly earnings per share amounts are presented based on a normalized tax rate adjustment to reconcile quarterly tax rates to full-year tax rate expectations. We strongly encourage investors and stockholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

FIRST-QUARTER 2024 ONGOING EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXES AND ONGOING EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures ongoing earnings before interest and taxes and ongoing earnings per diluted share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool and net earnings (loss) per diluted share available to Whirlpool, for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Net earnings (loss) margin is calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool by net sales. Ongoing EBIT margin is calculated by dividing ongoing EBIT by net sales. EBIT margin is calculated by dividing EBIT by net sales. The earnings per diluted share GAAP measure and ongoing measure are presented net of tax, while each adjustment is presented on a pre-tax basis. Our first-quarter GAAP tax rate was 42.9%. The aggregate income tax impact of the taxable components of each adjustment is presented in the income tax impact line item at our first-quarter adjusted tax rate (non-GAAP) of 0.0%.

Note: Numbers may not reconcile due to rounding; As a result of our current period GAAP earnings loss, the impact of antidilutive shares was excluded from the loss per share calculation on a GAAP basis. The share count adjustment used in the calculation of the first-quarter ongoing earnings per diluted share includes basic shares outstanding of 54.9 million plus the impact of antidilutive shares of 1.2 million which were excluded on a GAAP basis.

FIRST-QUARTER 2023 ONGOING EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXES AND ONGOING EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures ongoing earnings before interest and taxes and ongoing earnings per diluted share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool and net earnings (loss) per basic share available to Whirlpool, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Net earnings (loss) margin is calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool by net sales. Ongoing EBIT margin is calculated by dividing ongoing EBIT by net sales. EBIT margin is calculated by dividing EBIT by net sales. The earnings per basic share GAAP measure and ongoing measure are presented net of tax, while each adjustment is presented on a pre-tax basis. Our first-quarter GAAP tax rate was (62.4)%. The aggregate income tax impact of the taxable components of each adjustment is presented in the income tax impact line item at our first-quarter adjusted tax rate (non-GAAP) of 15.0%.

Note: Numbers may not reconcile due to rounding

*As a result of our current period GAAP earnings loss, the impact of antidilutive shares was excluded from the loss per share calculation on a GAAP basis. The share count adjustment used in the calculation of the first-quarter ongoing earnings per diluted share includes basic shares outstanding of 54.8 million plus the impact of antidilutive shares of 0.4 million which were excluded on a GAAP basis.

FULL-YEAR 2024 OUTLOOK FOR ONGOING EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXES AND ONGOING EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures ongoing earnings before interest and taxes and ongoing earnings per diluted share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, net earnings available to Whirlpool and net earnings per diluted share available to Whirlpool, for the twelve months ending December 31, 2024. Net earnings margin is calculated by dividing net earnings available to Whirlpool by net sales. Ongoing EBIT margin is calculated by dividing ongoing EBIT by net sales. EBIT margin is calculated by dividing EBIT by net sales. The earnings per diluted share GAAP measure and ongoing measure are presented net of tax, while each adjustment is presented on a pre-tax basis. Our anticipated full-year GAAP tax rate is approximately 25%. The aggregate income tax impact of the taxable components of each adjustment is presented in the income tax impact line item at our anticipated full-year adjusted tax (non-GAAP) rate of approximately 0%.

Note: Numbers may not reconcile due to rounding

FULL-YEAR 2023 ONGOING EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXES AND ONGOING EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures ongoing earnings before interest and taxes and ongoing earnings per diluted share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool and net earnings (loss) per diluted share available to Whirlpool, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Net earnings (loss) margin is calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool by

net sales. Ongoing EBIT margin is calculated by dividing ongoing EBIT by net sales. EBIT margin is calculated by dividing EBIT by net sales. The earnings per diluted share GAAP measure and ongoing measure are presented net of tax, while each adjustment is presented on a pre-tax basis. Our full-year GAAP tax rate was 13.0%. The aggregate income tax impact of the taxable components of each adjustment is presented in the income tax impact line item at our full-year adjusted tax (non-GAAP) rate of (6.7)%.

Note: Numbers may not reconcile due to rounding

FOOTNOTES

a. RESTRUCTURING EXPENSE - In March 2024, the Company committed to workforce reduction plans. $23 million was recorded during the first quarter, of which $14 million was employee termination costs and $9 million was other associated exit costs. For the full year 2024, we expect to incur approximately $50 million of restructuring charges.

b. IMPACT OF M&A TRANSACTIONS - On January 16, 2023, we signed a contribution agreement to contribute our European major domestic appliance business into a newly formed entity with Arçelik. In connection with the transaction, we recorded a loss on disposal of $247 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Additionally, we incurred other unique transaction related costs related to portfolio transformation for a total of $12 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. These transaction costs are recorded in Selling, General and Administrative expenses on our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

During the first quarter of 2023, we recorded an adjustment of $222 million related to the loss on disposal for the European major domestic appliance business transaction. During the full year of 2023, we recorded a loss of $106 million related to the planned divestiture of our European major domestic appliance business for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Additionally, we incurred other identifiable costs related to portfolio transformation, totaling $75 million in 2023.

c. LEGACY MDA EUROPE LEGAL MATTERS - During the first quarter of 2023, the Company accrued $62 million related to the France Competition Investigation and Trade Customer Insolvency matters of our European major domestic appliance business. The aggregate amount accrued by the Company related to the France Competition Investigation and other legacy legal matters of our European major domestic appliance business was $94 million, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

d. NORMALIZED TAX RATE ADJUSTMENT - During the first quarter of 2024, the Company calculated a GAAP tax rate of 42.9%. Ongoing earnings per share was calculated using an adjusted tax rate of 0.0%, which excludes the non-tax deductible impact of M&A transactions of approximately $205 million recorded in the first quarter of 2024. The Company expects a full-year GAAP tax rate of approximately 25.0% and adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 0.0%. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company calculated ongoing earnings per share using an adjusted tax rate of 15.0% which excludes the non-tax deductible impact of M&A transactions of approximately $222 million recorded in the first quarter of 2023. During the full-year of 2023, the Company calculated ongoing earnings per share using an adjusted tax rate of (6.7)% which excludes the non-tax deductible impact of M&A transactions of approximately $25 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 and which reflects certain tax benefits related to legal entity restructuring transactions in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Additionally, in the full-year 2024 outlook, the Company calculated ongoing earnings per share using a full-year adjusted tax (non-GAAP) rate of approximately 0.0%. The company expects to recognize tax benefits, contingent upon the closure of the Europe transaction, that are expected to provide a significant tax benefit. Reconciling from our expected full-year GAAP tax rate of approximately 25.0%, certain Europe transaction tax impacts have been adjusted from our full-year adjusted tax (non-GAAP) rate of approximately 0.0%.

ONGOING EBIT EXCLUDING MDA EUROPE SECOND QUARTER THROUGH FOURTH QUARTER

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the impact of removing MDA Europe from our Q2 through Q4 net sales and ongoing EBIT, for twelve months ended December 31, 2023 for the Whirlpool business.

Note: Numbers may not reconcile due to rounding

*Q2-Q4 historical segment financial data (unaudited).

FREE CASH FLOW

Free cash flow is cash provided by (used in) operating activities after capital expenditures. The reconciliation provided below reconciles three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 and 2024 full-year free cash flow with cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow as a percentage of net sales is calculated by dividing free cash flow by net sales.

*Financial guidance on a GAAP basis for cash provided by (used in) financing activities and cash provided by (used in) investing activities has not been provided because in order to prepare any such estimate or projection, the Company would need to rely on market factors and certain other conditions and assumptions that are outside of its control.

Free cash flow is cash provided by (used in) operating activities after capital expenditures. The reconciliation provided below reconciles twelve months ended December 31, 2023 full-year free cash flow with cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Free cash flow as a percentage of net sales is calculated by dividing free cash flow by net sales.

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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation