RRD Reports 3.6% Net Sales Decline, But Rise in Operating Cash Flow, in Q1 2021 Financial Results

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD) reported financial results for the first quarter of 2021.

Q1 Key messages

• GAAP net sales, including the impact of a disposition and foreign exchange, decreased 3.6%; Non-GAAP organic net sales decreased 4.3%; both decline rates improved from the prior three quarters
• Both GAAP and Non-GAAP income from operations and margins down from strong prior year results; both benefitted from continued cost reductions, but negatively impacted by approximately $11 million of unfavorable foreign exchange
• GAAP loss per share from continuing operations of $0.03 and Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.08, both negatively impacted by a higher effective tax rate
• Operating cash flow improved $61 million versus prior year due to continued working capital improvements
• Gross leverage ratio of 3.9x improved 0.9x from March 31, 2020; net leverage ratio of 3.2x improved 0.6x from same period
• Recently announced offering of $400 million of 6.125% senior secured notes due 2026 on track to close on April 28th

Daniel Knotts

“We are off to a strong start in 2021 as we continue to provide essential marketing and business communications for our clients while continuing to protect the health and safety of our global colleagues,” said Dan Knotts, RRD President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our first quarter organic sales rate marked our third consecutive quarter of improving sales trends, we continued to execute our cost reduction plans to align with client demand, and we delivered our best first quarter operating cash flow performance since the spin in 2016. We also made significant progress in improving our balance sheet flexibility with the recently announced extension of the maturity date for our ABL credit facility and the refinancing of a significant portion of our 2024 term loans with new senior secured notes. While the pace of the economic recovery remains uncertain, we continue to successfully advance our strategic priorities and are confident that we will emerge from the pandemic as a stronger company.”

Financial highlights

The following tables provide an overview of RRD’s financial performance:

Click to enlarge.

Net sales in the first quarter were $1.17 billion, down $43.8 million or 3.6% from the first quarter of 2020. The decrease includes a $6.5 million impact from the previous closure of our operations in Chile and an increase of nearly $15 million due to changes in foreign exchange. The current period continued to be negatively impacted by the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s Census project, which was completed mid-2020.

Organic net sales declined 4.3%. The Business Services segment was up 3.2% on a GAAP basis and 2.4% on a non-GAAP organic basis while the Marketing Solutions segment was down 22.5% on a GAAP and non-GAAP organic basis from the first quarter of 2020. The Business Services segment experienced growth in several of our strategic focus areas including Packaging, Labels and Supply Chain Management, while net sales in Marketing Services were negatively affected by last year’s Census project.

Income from operations was $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to income from operations of $33.1 million in the first quarter of last year.

Non-GAAP adjusted income from operations of $37.4 million decreased $13.0 million from the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange of nearly $11 million, which was mostly associated with operations in China. In addition, proactive actions taken to reduce the Company’s cost structure nearly offset the impact of lower sales, which included the impact of last year’s Census project and the ongoing pandemic, and higher variable incentive compensation expense.

Loss per share from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders was $0.03 in the first quarter of 2021 compared to earnings per share of $0.10 reported in the first quarter of 2020. The 2021 results were negatively impacted by lower income from operations and higher income taxes, slightly offset by lower interest expense reflecting lower debt outstanding and a lower variable interest rate. The prior year effective tax rate reflected benefits from the CARES Act.

Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders of $0.08 in the first quarter of 2021 decreased from $0.27 in the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to lower adjusted income from operations and unfavorable income taxes.

Other highlights and information

Cash used in operating activities of $18.9 million in the first quarter of 2021 improved $61 million versus the prior year period. The improvement is primarily related to working capital improvements, partially offset by lower earnings and LSC bankruptcy related payments.

Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2021 were $13.0 million versus $17.7 million in the prior year period.

As of March 31, 2021, cash on hand was $261.6 million, down $27.2 million from December 31, 2020. Total debt outstanding at the end of the quarter was $1.5 billion which remained unchanged from the prior year end. Availability under the credit facility was $512 million at March 31, 2021. Total liquidity, including cash on hand, was $774 million, down from $865 million at December 31, 2020 and up from $644 million at March 31, 2020.

During 2020, the Company completed the sale of its DLS Worldwide, International Logistics and Courier Logistics businesses. The Company has reflected the Logistics businesses as discontinued operations, and the financial results of these businesses have been excluded from continuing operations and segment results for all periods presented unless otherwise noted.

Outlook

As COVID-19 infection rates remain elevated in many parts of the world, the year ahead continues to present many uncertainties. As such, the Company is unable to furnish its typical guidance for the balance of the year. However, the Company is providing the following observations and guidance for the year.

• Net sales for the year are expected to be flat to up low single digits taking into consideration reductions from the Census project and one-time pandemic related projects in the last half of 2020, offset by a modest economic recovery as the year progresses. Net sales in the second quarter are expected to be between $1.10 and $1.15 billion, up 8 to 13 percent organically reflecting improvement from the pandemic partially offset by last year’s Census project.
• Excluding the unpredictable impact from changes in foreign exchange rates and the possible impact from future inflation and labor availability, non-GAAP adjusted income from operations and the resulting operating margin are expected to be flat to up slightly from the prior year as the Company continues to benefit from aggressive cost-reduction actions. Non-GAAP adjusted income from operations for the second quarter is expected to be up from the prior year reflecting an increase in volume and continued cost reduction efforts, partially offset by unfavorable foreign exchange of approximately $10 million assuming the exchange rates do not change from the current rates.
• Depreciation expense is expected to be approximately $135 million for the year.
• Interest expense is expected to range from $120 to $125 million excluding GAAP only charges estimated at $9 to $10 million associated with terminating certain interest rate swap agreements in connection with the April, 2021 senior secured note issuance and term loan prepayment. Interest expense is expected to include benefits from lower average borrowings and a lower average interest rate in 2021 as compared to 2020.
• The full year Non-GAAP effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 35% which is higher than reported in 2020 as non-recurring benefits were reflected in 2020 and the benefit from the CARES Act has expired.
• Operating cash flow is expected to be slightly lower than the prior year reflecting a reduction due to the repayment of half of the employer portion of payroll taxes deferred in 2020 and payments to settle LSC bankruptcy-related obligations. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $80 million. As part of our agreement to sell the printing facility in China, the Company expects to collect one additional deposit of approximately $50 million in 2021. The Company also expects to continue generating additional proceeds from monetizing other assets including proceeds from selling additional facilities.

Source: RRD