Stepan Co (SCL) 2015 Q4 法說會逐字稿

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to the Stepan Company Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Earnings Conference Call. During the presentation, all participants will be in listen-only mode. After which, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, this conference is being recorded, Wednesday, February 24, 2016.

I would now like to turn the call over to Scott Beamer, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Stepan Company. Please go ahead, sir.

Hello and thank you for joining the Stepan Company's fourth quarter and full year 2015 financial review. Before we begin, please note that information in this conference call contains forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts. These statements involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to the prospects of our foreign operations, global and regional economic conditions, and factors detailed in our Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Whether you're joining us online or over the phone, we encourage you to review the investor slide presentation, which we've made available at www.stepan.com, under the Investor Relations portion of our website. We make these slides available at approximately the same time as when we released earnings. And we hope that you find the information and perspectives helpful.

Now, with that said, I'd like to turn the call over to F. Quinn Stepan Jr., our President and Chief Executive Officer.

Thank you, Scott, and thank you, all, for joining us today. Polymers -- overall, 2015 was a good year for Stepan Company. And specifically in the fourth quarter, adjusted net income was $17 million or $0.74 per diluted share compared to $8.8 million or $0.38 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

Total volume for the quarter increased 10%. Despite this increase, net sales decreased 8%, primarily as a result of pricing that contractually followed lower raw material costs and the negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Unit gross profit and gross profit as a percent of net sales improved versus 2014. Both Surfactant and Polymer results improved. Surfactant income increased on strong volume growth and an improved global product mix.

We delivered savings from the previously reported restructuring activities and executed actions to improve earnings going forward, including the dissolution of our Enhanced Oil Recovery joint venture, reducing Lipid Nutrition expenses, and the planned discontinuation of ethoxylation in Canada.

Polymers benefited from energy conservation efforts globally, expanded sales into metal panel and CASE applications as well as improved margins. Specialty Product results were down significantly for the year but are expected to benefit going forward from actions taken in the fourth quarter.

During 2015, we addressed the challenges incurred in 2014 and completed key components of our short-term and long-term strategies. Operationally, we increased asset utilization, improved product mix, reduced costs, and enhanced our internal efficiency.

Full year 2015 adjusted net income grew from $57.7 million to $79.4 million, a strong rebound from 2014. Surfactant earnings operating income increased by $43.3 million to $104.1 million.

Earnings were up in all regions. North America benefited from improved asset utilization, mostly from our new supply contract with The Sun Products Corporation. Mix improved and we delivered benefits from our efficiency program, DRIVE.

Latin America and Europe both had record Surfactant operating incomes. Latin America delivered higher sulfate and specialty volumes. Europe grew fabric softeners in the consumer products segment, an environmentally friendly solvent, and other specialties in the functional markets.

For the full year, reported Polymer operating income was $80.9 million, up $20.3 million or 33% from 2014. Polymers delivered their sixth consecutive record year of earning. Both volumes and margins improved. Today, we announced our quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share. We paid a total of $0.73 per share in 2015.

At this point, I would like Scott to walk through a few more details about our fourth quarter and full year results.

Thank you, Quinn. My comments will generally follow the slide presentation. Let's turn to Slide 3 to recap the fourth quarter.

Adjusted net income for the quarter was $17 million or $0.74 per diluted share, which is nearly doubled from $8.8 million or $0.38 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of last year. Both of our largest segments, Surfactant and Polymers, delivered significant income growth and continued to overcome foreign currency translation headwinds. Surfactant's operating income was $24.3 million, an increase of $12.2 million, or double compared to the fourth quarter of last year due to improved performance in North America and Latin America.

Our long-term supply agreement with The Sun Products Corporation continues to perform very well. Sun is one of the leading detergent producers in the U.S., and we now supply their anionic surfactant needs from within our network, significantly improving our asset utilization in North America.

Additionally, Polymer operating income was $18.1 million, an increase of $5 million or 38%, most significantly as a result of volume growth within our Global Rigid Polyol business and improved margins overall.

Since adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure, we provide full reconciliations to the reported figures, and these can be found in Appendix 2 of the presentation and Table 2 of the press release. Specifically, regarding adjustments to reported net income, this quarter included deferred compensation expense of $2.7 million or $0.12 per diluted share compared to $1.6 million or $0.07 of income in the same period last year.

Naturally, all employee compensation is reflected in our normal operating income, although we also allow employees the opportunity to defer their payouts until some future date and when the future payment -- and the future payment changes based on the company's share price. When the stock price increases, expense is generated. Since the future liability of this employee compensation only changes consistently with changes in the share price, we exclude this item from our operational discussion. Besides deferred compensation, this quarter also included nonoperational expense of $1.5 million or $0.06 per diluted share to dissolve the TIORCO Enhanced Oil Recovery joint venture.

The fourth quarter of 2014 results included deferred compensation income of $1.6 million and also there was $3 million of restructuring expense associated with an early retirement incentive program and asset impairment expense associated with write-offs of certain non-core asset. That quarter also included $1.8 million of environmental remediation expense for our Maywood, New Jersey site. Lastly, that quarter included $600,000 of income related to a reduction in a bad debt reserve.

In the fourth quarter, we exited the TIORCO joint venture with Nalco, which was focused on the Enhanced Oil Recovery market. Despite current oil prices, we remain committed to that market over the short and longer term, but will serve it through a smaller, more focused set of resources.

Let's move to Slide 4, which shows the total company's earnings bridge for the fourth quarter compared to last year's fourth quarter, and breaks down the $8.2 million increase in adjusted net income. Since this is net income, the figures noted here are after the effect of tax. We'll cover each segment in more detail shortly, but both Surfactants and Polymers grew significantly versus the prior year.

Specialty Products improved moderately in the quarter due to timing differences of shipments in our food and flavor business. Incentive-based compensation was higher since we did not pay bonuses last year. Interest expense was higher after the $100 million private placement borrowing, which was executed in July of 2015.

The All Other category represents external consulting fees paid for our DRIVE initiative as well as globalization and acquisition-related activity. The benefits of the DRIVE initiative are captured within the business segment operating results.

Our discussion on Slide 5 focus specifically on Surfactants results for this quarter. Business delivered $24.3 million of operating income, double the earnings of '14 fourth quarter. North American volumes were up 14%, primarily as a result of higher consumer products sales, including the additional laundry business that was mentioned.

We continue to show Asia and North America under the same category as our Surfactant business in Asia is small, and much of the Surfactant production in the region is usually to support business in the U.S. North America benefited from higher volume, the impact of the associated earnings leverage with those volume, improved operating efficiencies and a more favorable mix. The supply contract increased the past utilization and resulted in higher consumer products sales. Additional [to this] mix, we achieved higher volumes in agriculture and through our distributor partners. This improvement was offset by lower performance in our oilfield business, which was, again, impacted negatively by lower crude oil price.

Latin America was higher as consumer and functional business grew in Brazil and Colombia. Sales volume in Latin America grew by 17% during the quarter, and earnings grew despite the inflation and currency devaluation. Europe increased slightly for the quarter and was up $4.9 million for the full year as a result of greater product diversification in new fabric softeners volumes. Europe, Colombia, and Brazil all generated record years of operating income.

Now, turning to Polymers. Operating income was $18.1 million, which is $4.9 million higher compared to the same quarter last year. Volumes were 7% higher, primarily due to continued growth in polyols used in rigid foam insulation and insulated metal panels.

Regionally, North America and Europe both performed better than last year. North America polyols improved by $2.1 million, driven by increased volume of 6% and improved margins. Europe benefited from higher rigid polyol volumes, which offset the negative foreign currency translation impact. Phthalic anhydride, we completed our scheduled maintenance activities, and results were up on higher volumes. Specialty Product operating income increased $1 million on higher volumes due to timing differences by food and flavor customers.

Next, we recap the full year 2015 financial performance. Adjusted net income was $79.4 million or $3.46 per diluted share, up significantly compared to $57.7 million or $2.52 per diluted share in 2014.

Surfactant operating income was $104.1 million, an increase of $43.3 million or 71%. The increase was due to the additional laundry volumes in the second half of the year, improved asset utilization and a more favorable product mix as well as strong overseas performance.

Polymer operating income was $80.9 million, an increase of $20.3 million or 33%. Volumes grew within the Global Rigid Polyol business, and margins were better overall. Overall, it was the Polymers' sixth consecutive record year of annual operating income. The $80.9 million of operating income includes the first quarter gain on the sale of our Systems business. So the baseline number for this business would be $78 million, a good year.

Slide 8 shows the total company earnings bridge for the full year 2015 compared to 2014 and breaks down the $21.7 million increase in adjusted net income. Like the quarterly bridge, the figures were noted after the effects of (technical difficulty). On a year-over-year basis, both Surfactants and Polymers performed well, while Specialty Products underperformed. Incentive-based compensation was higher as we did not pay bonuses in 2014, and interest expense was higher as mentioned earlier.

Similar to the fourth quarter, for the full year, the other, the All Other category represents external consulting fees paid related to our DRIVE initiative as well as globalization and activity, acquisition activity-related expenses. The effective tax rate for the full year of 2015 was 26% compared to 24% last year. This increase was primarily attributable to certain nonrecurring foreign tax benefits that were recorded in 2014, but did not recur in 2015. Additionally, the geographic mix was less favorable in 2015 as earnings in the U.S. improved more significantly relative to improvements in other countries.

On Slide 9, we outline some important areas of progress during 2015. The chevron shapes each represent key pillars to drive earnings growth, short and longer term. We implemented a number of actions aimed at our structural cost base, and we delivered the savings from restructuring actions that began in 2013 and 2014. As mentioned, we dissolved the Enhanced Oil Recovery joint venture. In December, we took actions to improve the Lipid Nutrition business within the Specialty Products segment by reducing certain supply chain and SG&A costs. There is no net benefit to the fourth quarter. But benefits will begin in the first quarter of 2016. Also in January 2015, we informed our employees that we would discontinue ethoxylation production in Canada.

We optimized our operations through our DRIVE initiative. We earned the new laundry volumes, and this significantly improved sulfonation utilization in North America. We continue to diversify our product portfolio in both Polymers and Surfactants. In particular, European surfactants delivered record earnings by growing the fabric softener business and selling more specialized higher value products, both in consumer and functional end markets.

Latin America surfactants continued to perform very well despite less robust overall economic conditions. Higher sulfate and specialty volumes are consistent with our investments in the region and consistent with our objective to improve mix. Specifically, the consumer population in Brazil continues to purchase laundry and personal care products which contain surfactants.

Global Rigid Polyol volumes grew by 5% as the need for more energy-efficient solutions continues. And CASE also performed well.

Improving shareholder value will always be a fundamental objective. Adjusted EPS grew from $2.52 per diluted share to $3.46. The net debt ratio declined from 26% at the end of 2014 to 22% at the end of 2015. In 2015, we also increased cash dividend for the 48th consecutive year, placing us in a very select group of companies.

Now, Quinn will cover Slide 10 and we'll make some additional comments about 2016.

Thank you, Scott. I will speak about key initiatives as well as items we know with some level of certainty. Each amount stated will be before the effective taxes.

2016 should benefit from restructure activities taken in 2015. With more limited but more focused resources, our Enhanced Oil Recovery efforts will be better aligned with the opportunities we expect in the current low petroleum price environment. We expect profitability of EOR activities to improve by $3 million in 2016.

The actions taken in the fourth quarter of 2015 to lower costs within the Lipid Nutrition portion of Specialty Products should improve profitability by $3 million.

In January of 2016, we announced to our employees that we would begin transitioning ethoxylation volume from our Canadian site. 2016 accelerated depreciation, and unit shutdown costs should be between $2 million and $3 million.

Our DRIVE program delivered expected benefits in 2015. Moving forward, we expect to benefit from projects that will carry over into 2016, new projects and the elimination of consulting fees for this initiative. DRIVE should deliver an additional $8 million in 2016.

We expect to benefit from a full year of the additional laundry volumes on the business we earned in July of 2015.

In Germany, we will incur additional costs of about $4 million because of an expected every five-year government-mandated shutdown of our site. Shutdown typically last 30 days. This action -- shutdown will impact our Surfactants and Polymer businesses.

Our plant in China is beginning operations ahead of schedule and below budgeted cost. However, due to certain startup costs and primarily because of weaker construction activity in China, China will likely represent a headwind in 2016 between $3 million and $4 million.

The Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomer, or CASE business, is an important adjacency for Polymers, and we remain enthusiastic about this business. A new reactor in Poland will begin in the second half of this year.

In terms of growing our top line, we expect the rigid insulation foam business to continue to grow, benefiting from energy conservation efforts globally. Additionally, we plan to build upon the record years in Brazil and Colombia by introducing new products and earning new customers in those regions.

So overall, I believe EPS to [grow] despite the headwinds to it. Net debt without acquisition should improve. And we would like to continue to increase our cash dividends annually as we have since 1968.

This concludes our prepared remarks. At this time, we would like to turn the call over for questions. Jennifer, please review the instructions for the question portion of today's call.

(Operator Instructions) Our first question comes from the line of Eugene Fedotoff with KeyBanc. Please proceed with your question.

Good morning, guys. Congratulations on a good quarter. Could you talk about trends you're seeing in your functional Surfactants business? It seems like the ag business is doing well despite the headwinds from the overall market -- weaker ag market. Can you talk about that? Is that something like a share gain or something else that's driving that business higher for you?

I would say our -- we are certainly gaining share in our green solvent product line, which emulsifies pesticides and active -- and insecticides and allows those products to be dispersed across the farmer's field. So we're gaining share versus petroleum solvents, so gaining share in that segment.

We're seeing a little bit of improved demand in the agricultural market overall, but not significant, not significant. So I would say it's primarily based on new technology into that space.

Okay. And could you remind me what exposure, overall, is for oilfield-related business for you guys?

Relatively small in the big picture. Generally speaking, we tend to benefit more from falling petroleum prices versus the decline in the sales in the marketplace. But overall, the petroleum market today represents less than 10% of our Surfactant business.

Got it. And a question on Polymers, [Phthalic Anhydride] business, added about $2 million to operating income in the quarter. It seems like the higher demand from one customer is getting -- one customer. Can you provide a little bit more color on that? Is that a sustainable demand and we should expect that business to benefit operating income by about $2 million a quarter going forward? Or just if you can talk about that.

I think the results -- the $2 million in the fourth quarter, I think, is probably a little bit high to project that on an annual basis. There has been a change in that marketplace where one of our competitors had discontinued participation in [merchant] market. So there is -- mass utilization for the industry has improved, and there has been some margin improvement in that space. We would expect a more robust business, a more profitable business in 2016 and going forward.

Got it. And just in terms of your 2016 guidance, just one clarification, the $8 million benefit that you expect from your cost savings program in 2016, does that include consulting fees or it does not? So you would have additional, I don't know, $7 million or $8 million from the consulting fees not being there in '16?

Eugene, yes, the $8 million that we gave as the pretax number in the comments does include the savings from lower cost or no cost essentially in 2016 for the consultants.

Got it. And just a last question, Scott, for you. If you can talk about cash from operations, and if you can give me a number and the total D&A for the quarter?

So D&A, Eugene, has been pretty consistent, about $17 million a quarter for this year, and that's what you can expect for the fourth quarter as well. And we'll have the K out shortly this week.

Our operating cash flow for the fourth quarter was stronger than it had been throughout the year at about $60 million.

Got it.

It is a stronger trend than the prior quarters. Thank you.

Our next question comes from the line of Mike Harrison with Seaport Global Securities. Please proceed with your question.

Good morning. Quinn, you mentioned the North America Surfactant volume was up 14%. It sounds like that was mostly related to the Sun Products deal. But was wondering if you could break out what the underlying volume growth look like, and maybe talk about what you were seeing in laundry, personal care, I&I as well as the functional surfactants?

I think, excluding the new commodity volumes that we obtained, I would -- our volumes were down slightly for the quarter. And primarily, the volume decrease was in the oilfield and EOR space and a little bit in the HI&I marketplace. So those are the two areas where we experienced a decline in volume. The rest of the business was relatively flat in the quarter.

Okay. And obviously, the oilfield piece is pretty weak here. You're dissolving this joint venture. But the impact on sales next year, is it pretty neutral year-on-year? Is it a negative year-on-year? I know you said that the earnings is going to be a positive from dissolving the joint venture.

Yes. In the first quarter, it will be a decrease in 2016 first quarter because we had some large orders that shipped in the first quarter of 2015. But beyond that, it should be relatively neutral for the balance of the year.

Okay. And the ethoxylation transition that you're making here in Canada, can you give us a little bit of color on how you came to that decision? And you mentioned the headwind near-term as you have some shutdown costs, but what does it mean in terms of the cost structure going forward?

So ethylene oxide is a toxic inhalation hazard. And so we have been getting that material via railcar. And it's a relatively long transition line. So in order to reduce the transportation risk associated with the shipment of toxic inhalation hazard, we are going to be relocating some of our production to the Gulf Coast. And so we've talked about having a potential plant site in Louisiana and potentially the Pasadena, Texas site that we've acquired. So we would hope at the end of the second quarter to make a firm decision as to whether we're going to Texas or Louisiana with that investment. So this activity is part of our strategic plan to relocate a large portion of our alkoxylation and ethoxylation business to the Gulf Coast.

So we are filling up our existing sites in terms of our Winder site and our North American Millsdale sites, and then we will outsource some incremental volumes as necessary as we begin to transition down to the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Short-term, there are costs associated with this in 2016. From an ethoxylation perspective, we would expect to benefit by about $2 million a year in 2017, through the period of which we would start a new facility per year.

Got it. Okay. And looking at the raw material versus pricing dynamics in both the Surfactants and Polymers businesses, should we expect that dynamic to remain a tailwind for margins in 2016? Are we reaching a point where you've given most of that pricing back and it's going to be a little bit more neutral in both segments?

I think we would anticipate it being a benefit in the first quarter. And I think the balance of the year remains to be seen.

All right. Thank you very much.

(Operator Instructions) Our next question comes from the line of David Stratton with Great Lakes Review. Please proceed with your question.

Good morning. Most of my questions have been answered already. But can you breakout the pretax cost of the joint venture dissolution and whether that was included in the loss from equity and joint venture line item or where it came from?

Yes. It's on the -- on our P&L, David, in the other line item, loss on joint venture. And you'll see, for the quarter, it's higher than where it was last year. The impact -- the pretax impact is $2.4 million. And you'll see -- essentially, that explains the delta fourth quarter this year versus fourth quarter last year and the impact of full year delta as well. That's where you can see that.

All right. Thank you very much. That's all I had.

Great.

And gentlemen, we are showing no further questions at this time. We'll turn the conference back over to you.

Thank you very much for joining us on today's call. We very much appreciate your attendance and we appreciate your ownership in Stepan Company. We look forward to reporting continued positive results in our first quarter 2016 call. Have a great day.

Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude the conference call for today. We thank you kindly for your participation and ask that you please disconnect your lines. Have a good day, everyone.