Nordson Reports Record Second Quarter Results and Raises Fiscal Year 2021 Guidance

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Nordson Corporation reported results for the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2021. Sales were a quarterly company record of $590 million, an 11% increase compared to the prior year’s second quarter sales of $529 million. Robust growth in electronics and consumer non-durable end markets, as well as strengthening medical and industrial end markets, were the primary drivers of this performance. The change in second quarter 2021 sales included an organic volume increase of 10%, a favorable effect from currency translation of 4%, offset by the net unfavorable impact of acquisitions and divestitures. When excluding the divested screws and barrels product line in the prior year for comparability purposes, sales growth would have been 15% in the current year quarter.

Operating profit in the quarter was $166 million, or 28% of sales, compared to prior year adjusted operating profit of $125 million. This 33% increase in adjusted operating profit was driven by sales volume leverage, improved sales mix, and benefits from structural cost reduction actions taken in fiscal year 2020 and the recent screws and barrels product line divestiture. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2021 totaled $192 million, or 33% of sales.

Net income was $124 million, a 35% increase from the prior year adjusted earnings of $92 million. Second quarter 2021 diluted earnings per share were $2.12, a 34% increase over the prior year diluted earnings per share of $1.58.

“Broader end market demand accelerated in the quarter more quickly and to a higher level than we previously anticipated. I am very pleased with the dedication and agility of our teams as we delivered record revenue and operating results in the quarter,” said Nordson President and Chief Executive Officer Sundaram Nagarajan. “Based on our backlog and order trends, we expect this strength to continue and are raising our sales and earnings guidance for the full year fiscal 2021. Our priorities remain consistent – protect the health and safety of our employees, fully participate in the market recovery by meeting the needs of our customers, and deploy the Ascend Strategy. With this clear focus, we will continue to progress toward our long-term objectives of delivering top-tier growth with leading margins and returns.”

Second Quarter Segment Results

Industrial Precision Solutions sales of $299 million increased approximately 6% compared to the prior year second quarter, driven by an 8% organic increase and a favorable currency impact of 5%, offset 7% by a divestiture. The organic sales increase was driven by strong global demand in consumer non-durable and industrial end markets. When excluding the divested screws and barrels product line in the prior year for comparability purposes, sales growth would have been 13% in the current year quarter. Operating profit was $104 million, or 35% of sales, an increase of 36% compared to the prior year second quarter.

Advanced Technology Solutions sales of $291 million increased approximately 18% compared to the prior year second quarter. Organic sales increased 13% while favorable currency impacts added 3% and acquisitions increased sales by approximately 2%. This strong sales growth was driven by test and inspection product lines for electronics end markets and fluid management product lines for medical and industrial end markets. Operating profit totaled $77 million, or 26% of sales, an increase of 30% compared to the prior year second quarter.

“The strong incremental margins and record quarterly profitability reflects the execution of the NBS Next growth framework, including favorable mix improvement with the divestiture of the screws and barrels product line,” said Nordson Chief Financial Officer Joseph Kelley. “The continued deployment and execution of the overall Ascend Strategy is designed to deliver sales growth with attractive incremental profit margins.”

Outlook

Order entry trends consistently improved throughout the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 across most of our product lines, and remain strong entering the third quarter. Based on the current backlog, order entry trends, and the correlation to shipment timing, we expect the fiscal 2021 full year sales growth to be approximately 8% to 10% over fiscal year 2020, inclusive of a 3% headwind from the second quarter divestiture of the screws and barrels product line. Additionally, we are forecasting full year 2021 earnings per diluted share in the range of $7.20 to $7.50, representing 31% to 37% growth over the prior year adjusted earnings.