American Vanguard's Sales Up 29%, Earnings Up 22% in Q1 2022

Date:05-06-2022

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) has announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Fiscal 2022 First Quarter Financial Highlights – versus Fiscal 2021 First Quarter:

• Net sales were $149.4 million in 2022, compared to $116.2 million in 2021.

• Net income was $9.9 million in 2022, compared to $3.1 million in 2021.

• Earnings per diluted share of $0.33 in 2022, compared to $0.10 in 2021.

• EBITDA of $22.9 million in 2022, compared to $13.9 million in 2021.
  

Eric Wintemute, Chairman and CEO of American Vanguard stated: “We are pleased to report an extremely strong start to 2022 at both the top and bottom lines. We exceeded our first quarter financial targets, growing net sales by 29% and delivering gross profit margin of 41% resulting from a company-wide focus on profitability driven by pricing actions designed to offset inflationary cost escalations. Further, we reduced operating expense as a percentage of sales to 31% in the first quarter of 2022 from 36% in the first quarter of 2021. These efforts helped more than triple net income for the quarter compared to the prior year period. Additionally, we continue to focus on balance sheet priorities regarding inventory levels, working capital control and debt management.”

Mr. Wintemute continued: “After seven years of relatively stagnant crop prices, during the last year we have seen higher commodity prices, which have helped spur demand for our crop protection solutions. Midwest procurement of our corn soil insecticides and Impact herbicide has eclipsed expectations, while our expanding portfolio of soybean herbicides continued to diversify our market position in row crops. In addition, we experienced steady demand for products in mosquito control, horticulture, and commercial/consumer pest control markets. Internationally, we delivered strong performance in Mexico, Central America, while expanding our position in Australia, Brazil, China and India with Green Solutions products.”

Mr. Wintemute commented further: “Importantly, we reliably produced solidly profitable results while selffunding the SIMPAS prescription application system, the Ultimus tracing/verification software platform, and the biological alternative Green Solutions portfolio, all three of which are critical investments in the future of American Vanguard that we expect will create long-term value for our shareholders.”

Mr. Wintemute concluded, “As we have previously indicated, looking forward, we believe that our company is situated well in both domestic and international markets. Our performance targets for 2022 include 8-11% revenue growth, profit margins of 38-40% and operating expenses of between 31% and 33% of net sales. On a solid core business foundation, we will continue to develop our key strategic growth initiatives in Green Solutions and SIMPAS/Ultimus technologies. We look forward to providing additional detail on market conditions, profitability, working capital considerations and our innovation initiatives during our upcoming earnings call.”