Xylem Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2019 Earnings

Full-year reported net income was $401 million, or $2.21 per share, with a reported operating margin of 9.3 percent. Adjusted net income, which excludes the impact of restructuring, realignment and special charges, was $547 million, or $3.02 per share. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was 19.5 percent, flat year-over-year. Xylem delivered full-year 2019 adjusted operating margin of 13.9 percent, up 20 basis points versus the prior year. The Company generated $613 million in free cash flow, representing a 124 percent conversion.

In the fourth quarter 2019, Xylem generated net income of $118 million, or $0.65 per share, and adjusted net income of $161 million, or $0.89 per share, which excludes the impact of restructuring, realignment and special charges. Fourth quarter revenue was $1.37 billion reflecting ongoing softness in Industrial and Commercial end markets. Adjusted EBITDA declined 10 basis points to 20.5 percent. Reported operating margin in the quarter was 14.2 percent and adjusted operating margin declined 10 basis points year-over-year to 15.0 percent.

“Our teams continued to capitalize on Xylem’s portfolio of industry-leading technologies throughout 2019, again delivering mid-single-digit growth in the Utilities market globally, including double-digit growth in China and India,” said Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. “However, soft Industrial and Commercial markets in the second half slowed our overall revenue growth and margin progress for the year. In response to those challenges, we effectively contained costs, significantly improved working capital, and exceeded our free cash flow conversion commitments.”

“We’ve entered 2020 with strong operational discipline, solid foundations underpinning continued growth, and an energized global team leading the industry on sustainability,” Decker continued. “We’re confident we can manage through soft conditions persisting through the first half, and we foresee a moderate second-half recovery in our short-cycle businesses in parallel with ramp-ups in several large Utilities projects in our backlog. We expect a return to mid-single-digit growth in the second half of the year.”

Xylem announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend in the amount of $0.26 per share, an increase of 8 percent. The dividend is payable on March 26, 2020, to shareholders of record as of February 27, 2020.

Full-year 2020 Outlook

Xylem forecasts full-year 2020 organic revenue in the range of $5.3 to $5.35 billion, up one to three percent.

Full-year 2020 adjusted operating margin is expected to be in the range of 14.0 to 14.5 percent, resulting in adjusted earnings per share of $2.96 to $3.16. This represents an increase of one to eight percent from Xylem’s 2019 adjusted results, excluding the impact of foreign exchange translation and a reduction in non-cash pension income. The Company’s adjusted earnings outlook excludes projected restructuring and realignment costs in the range of $35 million to $45 million for the year. Excluding revenue, Xylem provides guidance only on a non-GAAP basis due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that would be included in GAAP earnings, such as discrete tax items, without unreasonable effort.

Fourth Quarter Segment Results

Water Infrastructure

Xylem’s Water Infrastructure segment consists of its portfolio of businesses serving clean water delivery, wastewater transport and treatment, and dewatering.

• Fourth quarter 2019 revenue was $603 million, up one percent organically compared with fourth quarter 2018. This increase was driven by solid results in the Utilities end market in the Emerging Markets and Europe. This was largely offset by declines in its short-cycle industrial dewatering business.
• Fourth quarter reported operating income for the segment was $119 million. Adjusted operating income for the segment, which excludes $6 million of restructuring and realignment, was $125 million. Reported operating margin for the Water Infrastructure segment was 19.7 percent, up 20 basis points versus the prior year, and adjusted operating margin was 20.7 percent, flat with prior year. Strong productivity benefits and cost control offset inflation, lower volumes, and unfavorable mix from our high-margin Dewatering business.

Applied Water

Xylem’s Applied Water segment consists of its portfolio of businesses in residential and commercial building services, and industrial applications.

• Fourth quarter 2019 Applied Water revenue was $392 million, a two percent decline organically year-over-year. Volume weakness in the Commercial and Industrial end markets continued in the quarter, with particular softness in the United States and Europe, partly offset by modest growth in Emerging Markets.
• Fourth quarter reported operating income for the segment was $62 million and adjusted operating income, which excludes $3 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $65 million, a six percent decrease versus the comparable period last year. The segment reported operating margin was 15.8 percent, down 60 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin declined 60 basis points to 16.6 percent. Strong productivity and price realization in the segment was more than offset by inflation, unfavorable mix, and lower volumes.

Measurement & Control Solutions

Xylem’s Measurement & Control Solutions segment consists of its portfolio of businesses in smart metering, network technologies, advanced infrastructure analytics and analytic instrumentation.

• Fourth quarter 2019 Measurement & Control Solutions revenue was $376 million, up two percent organically versus the prior year, driven by higher energy project deployments in the United States, and stronger international water metrology demand.

Fourth quarter reported operating income for the segment was $27 million, and adjusted operating income, which excludes $2 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $29 million. Measurement & Control Solutions segment reported operating margin was 7.2 percent. Adjusted operating margin of 7.7 percent increased 20 basis points over the prior year period. Productivity benefits and price realization