JBT Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT), a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food & beverage industry, today reported results for the third quarter of 2023.

"During the third quarter, we achieved strong margins and double-digit, year-over-year growth in orders," said Brian Deck, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The demand environment is showing signs of improvement in Europe and Asia, and healthier dynamics in the poultry end markets are expected to translate to better order activity. Additionally, with the completion of the AeroTech sale, we have a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity to continue to execute on our Elevate 2.0 strategic priorities."

Comparisons in this news release are to the comparable period of the prior year, unless otherwise noted. An earnings presentation with supplemental information is also available on the Company's Investor Relations website at https://ir.jbtc.com/events-and-presentations/.

Third Quarter 2023 Results

"We continued to deliver solid year-over-year improvement in profitability as a result of our pricing actions, restructuring program, and supply chain efforts," said Matt Meister, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "We achieved a quarterly free cash flow conversion of greater than 100 percent, and moving forward, we expect that conversion rate to be more stable as a pure-play business."

AeroTech's financial results were transitioned to discontinued operations beginning in the second quarter of 2023, and prior period financial results have been recast accordingly. The below paragraphs reflect JBT's results from continuing operations.

Third quarter 2023 revenue of $404 million increased 1 percent year over year driven by 3 percent growth from acquisitions, which was partially offset by a 2 percent decline in organic revenue. Income from continuing operations of $31 million increased 19 percent. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $66 million increased 9 percent, and the adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.4 percent increased 120 basis points.

During the third quarter, JBT incurred $6 million of expense and realized approximately $3.5 million in savings related to its ongoing restructuring program. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $0.95 increased 19 percent, and adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $1.11 increased 16 percent. Included in the third quarter 2023 EPS was a $0.09 discrete tax benefit. Orders were $398 million, an increase of 14 percent, and backlog of $689 million increased 4 percent.

JBT generated year to date operating cash flow from continuing operations of $96 million. Year to date free cash flow was $62 million. As a result of JBT's strong cash flow and the proceeds from the sale of AeroTech, the leverage ratio at the end of the quarter was 0.5x net debt to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations.

2023 Outlook for Continuing Operations

JBT is updating and narrowing its guidance for full year 2023 based on the fourth quarter outlook and year-to-date performance.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, JBT expects to earn interest income of approximately $2.5 million. Additionally, JBT expects to incur approximately $1.5 million in restructuring costs, $1 million in LIFO expense, and $0.5 million in M&A related costs. The tax rate is expected to be 22 - 23 percent, which is prior to any discrete items.

Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, to discuss third quarter 2023 results. Participants may access the conference call through online registration at https://conferencingportals.com/event/OCZuDEaG. A simultaneous webcast and audio replay of the call will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.jbtc.com/events-and-presentations/.

JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT) is a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food & beverage industry. JBT designs, produces and services sophisticated products and systems for a broad range of end markets, generating roughly one-half of its annual revenue from recurring parts, service, rebuilds, and leasing operations. JBT employs approximately 5,100 people worldwide and operates sales, service, manufacturing and sourcing operations in more than 25 countries. For more information, please visit www.jbtc.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are beyond JBT’s ability to control. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to our business and our results of operations, our strategic plans, our restructuring plans and expected cost savings from those plans, our liquidity and our covenant compliance. The factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to the following factors: fluctuations in our financial results; unanticipated delays or acceleration in our sales cycles; deterioration of economic conditions; including impacts from supply chain delays and reduced material or component availability; inflationary pressures, including increases in energy, raw material, freight, and labor costs; disruptions in the political, regulatory, economic and social conditions of the countries in which we conduct business; changes to trade regulation, quotas, duties or tariffs; risks associated with acquisitions or strategic investments; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in food consumption patterns; impacts of pandemic illnesses, food borne illnesses and diseases to various agricultural products; weather conditions and natural disasters; impact of climate change and environmental protection initiatives; acts of terrorism or war, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; termination or loss of major customer contracts and risks associated with fixed-price contracts, particularly during periods of high inflation; customer sourcing initiatives; competition and innovation in our industries; our ability to develop and introduce new or enhanced products and services and keep pace with technological developments; difficulty in developing, preserving and protecting our intellectual property or defending claims of infringement; catastrophic loss at any of our facilities and business continuity of our information systems; cyber-security risks such as network intrusion or ransomware schemes; loss of key management and other personnel; potential liability arising out of the installation or use of our systems; our ability to comply with U.S. and international laws governing our operations and industries; increases in tax liabilities; work stoppages; fluctuations in interest rates and returns on pension assets; a systemic failure of the banking system in the United States or globally impacting our customers' financial condition and their demand for our goods and services; availability of and access to financial and other resources; and other factors described under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in JBT’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in any subsequently filed Form 10-Q. JBT cautions shareholders and prospective investors that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. JBT undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, subsequent events or changes in circumstances or otherwise.

JBT provides non-GAAP financial measures in order to increase transparency in our operating results and trends. These non-GAAP measures eliminate certain costs or benefits from, or change the calculation of, a measure as calculated under U.S. GAAP. By eliminating these items, JBT provides a more meaningful comparison of our ongoing operating results, consistent with how management evaluates performance. Management uses these non-GAAP measures in financial and operational evaluation, planning and forecasting.

These calculations may differ from similarly-titled measures used by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed are not intended to be used as a substitute for, nor should they be considered in isolation of, financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.