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Table of Contents



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 26, 2003

THE TORO COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         
Delaware
(State of Incorporation)
  1-8649
(Commission File Number)
  41-0580470
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

8111 Lyndale Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55420
Telephone number: (952) 888-8801

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant’s principal executive offices)



 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
EXHIBIT LIST
SIGNATURES
EX-99 Press Release


Table of Contents

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

       (c) Exhibits

       See Exhibit List.

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

       On August 26, 2003, The Toro Company announced its earnings for the three and nine months ended August 1, 2003. Attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99 is a copy of The Toro Company’s press release in connection with the announcement. The information is not deemed filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is not deemed incorporated by reference by any general statements incorporating by reference this report or future filings into any filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent The Toro Company specifically incorporates the information by reference.

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT LIST

     
EXHIBIT    
NUMBER   DESCRIPTION

 
99   Other

Registrant’s press release dated August 26, 2003 (furnished herewith).

 


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

   
  THE TORO COMPANY
(Registrant)
         
Date:   August 26, 2003   By /s/ Stephen P. Wolfe

Stephen P. Wolfe
Vice President Finance,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(duly authorized officer and principal financial officer)

 

exv99
 

     
TORO LOGO   The Toro Company
   
    8111 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, Minnesota 55420-1196
#952/888-8801                     #FAX 952/887-8258
             
Investor Relations       Media Relations   Web Site
Stephen P. Wolfe Vice President, CFO (952) 887-8076   Stephen D. Keating Director, Investor Relations (952) 887-8526   Connie Hawkinson Toro Media Relations (952) 887-8984, pr@toro.com   www.thetorocompany.com

TORO THIRD QUARTER NET EARNINGS PER SHARE UP 23% TO $1.03

Company Raises Fiscal 2003 Guidance;
Profit Improvement Initiatives Continue to Benefit Performance

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL
August 26, 10 a.m. CDT

www.thetorocompany.com/invest

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (August 26, 2003) — The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today reported net earnings of $27.0 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, on net sales of $394.5 million for its fiscal 2003 third quarter ended August 1, 2003. Results for the quarter included an after-tax restructuring charge of $1.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to the closing of the company’s two-cycle engine plant in Oxford, Miss. Adjusted to exclude this charge, net earnings for the fiscal 2003 third quarter would have been $28.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share. In the fiscal 2002 third quarter the company reported net earnings of $21.9 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, on net sales of $375.6 million.

     Kendrick B. Melrose, The Toro Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said the company’s financial performance continues to benefit from the profit improvement initiatives implemented under the company’s “5 by Five” program. “We began our ‘5 by Five’ campaign in fiscal 2000 with the goal of significantly improving our after tax profitability by fiscal 2003,” said Melrose. “Our strong third quarter results, building on a solid first half performance, are keeping us on track to meet that goal. In addition, successful new products launched during the season drove revenue growth in both professional and residential segments, despite a lagging economy and above-average rainfall in many of our Eastern markets.”

     For the nine months ended August 1, 2003, Toro reported net earnings of $76.0 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,186.3 million. This compared to a reported net income of $30.3 million or $1.17 per diluted share, on net sales of $1,123.9 million for the same nine-month period in fiscal 2002. The company’s results for fiscal 2003’s first nine months

-more-

 


 

2—Toro Reports Third Quarter Results

include an after-tax restructuring charge of $0.03 per diluted share and a gain of $0.08 per diluted share resulting from a legal settlement. Adjusted to exclude these items, the company’s net earnings for the first nine months of fiscal 2003 would have been $74.8 million, or $2.87 per diluted share. Adjustments to fiscal 2002’s nine-month results include: a non-cash charge of $24.6 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, reflecting the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle related to the adoption of SFAS no. 142; restructuring and other expenses related to plant closings and asset impairment totaling $6.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, and a one-time federal tax refund of $1.8 million or $0.07 per diluted share from prior fiscal years, related to the company’s foreign sales corporation. Excluding these items, the company’s net earnings for the first nine months of fiscal 2002 would have totaled $2.31 per diluted share. Compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2002, the adjusted diluted earnings per share for the same period of fiscal 2003 increased 24.2%.

     Earnings per share for all periods reported have been adjusted to reflect the effects of a two-for-one split of the company’s Common Stock effective April 1, 2003. The table below reconciles the company’s third quarter and year-to-date results under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles with the results that exclude the aforementioned unusual items.

                           
      Qtr. Ended     Qtr. Ended*          
3rd Quarter   8/1/03     8/2/02     %  

 
   
   
 
Reported diluted earnings per share
  $ 1.03     $ 0.84       22.6 %
Add:
                       
 
Restructuring charge and other expense
    0.04                
 
 
   
   
 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
  $ 1.07     $ 0.84       27.4 %
 
 
   
   
 
                           
      YTD     YTD          
Nine Months Ended   8/1/03     8/2/02*     %  

 
   
   
 
Reported diluted earnings per share
  $ 2.92     $ 1.17       149.6 %
Add (subtract) :
                       
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
          0.95          
Restructuring and other expense
    0.03       0.26          
One-time tax refund
          (0.07 )        
Legal settlement     (0.08 )              
 
 
   
   
 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
  $ 2.87     $ 2.31       24.2 %
 
 
   
   
 

*Figures have been adjusted for the 2 for 1 split of the company’s common stock effective April 1, 2003.

-more-

 


 

3—Toro Reports Third Quarter Results

SEGMENT RESULTS

     Segment data is provided in the table following the “Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.”

PROFESSIONAL

     Compared with the fiscal 2002 third quarter, fiscal 2003 third quarter professional segment sales increased 3.7% to $244.1 million. Professional segment sales benefited from initial stocking orders and strong acceptance of new Exmark and Toro brand landscape contractor equipment. Other key contributors to third quarter professional segment sales growth were new golf greens mowing equipment, service parts, Toro branded residential/commercial irrigation products and favorable effects of currency. Segment earnings before restructuring charges and other expense totaled $42.2 million for the quarter, up 21.2% from $34.8 million in the fiscal 2002 third quarter.

RESIDENTIAL

     Residential segment sales for the fiscal 2003 third quarter totaled $129.0 million, up 7.6% from the fiscal 2002 third quarter. The increase resulted primarily from growth in walk power mower shipments, particularly to the mass-market channel. Third quarter sales also benefited from shipments of new riding mowers and new two-stage snow products as well as favorable effects of currency. Offsetting these increases in sales were declines in home solutions and retail irrigation shipments. Segment earnings for fiscal 2003 third quarter were $13.2 million compared to $12.2 million in the comparable fiscal 2002 period. Segment earnings before restructuring and other expense for the fiscal 2003 third quarter totaled $14.9 million, up 22.3% from $12.2 million in the comparable fiscal 2002 period. “The strong growth in the residential segment profit reflects our continuing efforts to improve the profitability of this business,” said Melrose.

DISTRIBUTOR

     Distribution segment sales for the fiscal 2003 third quarter totaled $43.0 million, compared with $50.5 million in the 2002 third quarter. The decline resulted primarily from the company’s sale of a distributor effective December 31, 2002.

-more-

 


 

4—Toro Reports Third Quarter Results

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

     Gross margin for the fiscal 2003 third quarter was 37.2%, up from 34.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. The margin improvement reflects further benefits from the company’s “5 by Five” initiatives and resulted primarily from ongoing cost reduction efforts, the relocation of certain production to lower cost facilities, favorable currency exchange rates and a favorable mix of products sold during the quarter. Gross margin also benefited from positive manufacturing variances resulting from the closure of facilities in Riverside, Calif. and Evansville, Ind.

     Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal 2003 third quarter were 25.6% of net sales compared with 24.6% of net sales in the fiscal 2002 third quarter. The increase resulted primarily from more investment in marketing, information technology, and engineering. “We will continue to redirect our spending to these areas that strengthen and grow our company long term, as we drive down other elements of our selling, general and administrative expenses,” said Melrose.

     Interest expense for the quarter was down 10.8% compared with the fiscal 2002 third quarter. The decrease resulted from continued lower average borrowing levels.

     Net inventories at the end of the fiscal 2003 third quarter totaled $236.0 million, up 12.8% from an abnormally low level of $209.3 million at the end of the fiscal 2002 third quarter. This increase was due to lower than expected sales in the residential segment as well as the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on international inventories.

     Net receivables at the end of the fiscal 2003 third quarter totaled $373.2 million compared with $341.9 million at the end of the fiscal 2002 third quarter. The increase was a result of higher overall sales and a shift in sales to later in the fiscal 2003 third quarter as well as the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on international receivables.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

     Based on its strong performance through the first nine months of fiscal 2003, Toro said it now expects to report net earnings per diluted share in the range of $3.08 to $3.10 for the full fiscal year. This includes the previously mentioned legal settlement as well as the year-to-date net restructuring and other expenses.

     “We began fiscal 2003 strong and we expect to end the year strong,” said Melrose. “Improvements in distribution efficiency, supply chain management and capacity utilization are evident in our results to date. We expect these productivity and efficiency gains to continue into fiscal 2004, augmented by further efforts to streamline our business processes.”

-more-

 


 

5—Toro Reports Third Quarter Results

The Toro Company is a leading worldwide provider of outdoor maintenance and beautification products for home, recreation and commercial landscapes.

     The Toro Company will conduct a conference call and webcast for investors beginning at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on August 26, 2003. The webcast will be available at www.streetevents.com or at www.thetorocompany.com/invest. Webcast participants will need to complete a brief registration form and should allot extra time before the webcast begins to register and, if necessary, download and install audio software.

Safe Harbor

     Statements made in this news release, which are forward-looking, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. These uncertainties include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to Toro. Particular risks and uncertainties facing the company’s overall financial position at the present include the threat of further terrorist acts and war, which may result in contraction of the U.S. and worldwide economies; continued slowing of growth in global and domestic economies, resulting in rising unemployment and weakened consumer confidence; our ability to achieve the goals of the “5 by Five” profit improvement program, which is intended to improve our after-tax return on sales; the company’s ability to achieve sales growth and low double-digit diluted earnings per share growth in fiscal 2003; unforeseen product quality problems in the development and production of new and existing products; potential issues with opening new production facilities and moving production between facilities; continued slow growth in the rate of new golf course construction or existing golf course renovations; increased dependence on The Home Depot as a customer for the residential segment; reduced government spending for grounds maintenance equipment due to reduced tax revenue and tighter government budgets; elimination of shelf space for our products at retailers; changes in raw material costs, including higher oil prices; financial viability of distributors and dealers; market acceptance of existing and new products; and increased and adverse changes in currency exchange rates or raw material commodity prices and the costs we incur in providing price support to international customers and suppliers. In addition to the factors set forth in this paragraph, market, economic, financial, competitive, weather, production and other factors identified in Toro’s quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could affect the forward-looking statements in this press release. Toro undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements made in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement.

(Financial tables follow)

 


 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share data)

                                   
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     
   
 
      August 1,     August 2,     August 1,     August 2,  
      2003     2002     2003     2002  
     
   
   
   
 
Net sales
  $ 394,524     $ 375,632     $ 1,186,326     $ 1,123,861  
Gross profit
    146,950       128,939       428,163       386,299  
 
Gross profit percent
    37.2 %     34.3 %     36.1 %     34.4 %
Selling, general, and administrative expense
    101,118       92,412       307,618       285,689  
Restructuring and other expense
    1,655             1,476       9,953  
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
Earnings from operations
    44,177       36,527       119,069       90,657  
Interest expense
    (4,152 )     (4,656 )     (12,564 )     (15,224 )
Other income, net
    339       848       6,921       3,916  
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
Earnings before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    40,364       32,719       113,426       79,349  
Provision for income taxes
    13,320       10,797       37,430       24,410  
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
Net earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    27,044       21,922       75,996       54,939  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit of $509
                      (24,614 )
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 27,044     $ 21,922     $ 75,996     $ 30,325  
 
 
   
   
   
 
Basic net earnings per share, before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.08     $ 0.87     $ 3.04     $ 2.19  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit
                      (0.98 )
 
 
   
   
   
 
Basic net earnings per share
  $ 1.08     $ 0.87     $ 3.04     $ 1.21  
 
 
   
   
   
 
Diluted net earnings per share, before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ 1.03     $ 0.84     $ 2.92     $ 2.12  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit
                      (0.95 )
 
 
   
   
   
 
Diluted net earnings per share
  $ 1.03     $ 0.84     $ 2.92     $ 1.17  
 
 
   
   
   
 
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding — Basic
    25,070       25,218       24,999       25,136  
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding — Dilutive
    26,305       26,097       26,062       25,920  

Shares and per share data have been adjusted for all periods presented to reflect a two-for-one stock split effective April 1, 2003.

 


 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Segment Data (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

                                   
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     
   
 
      August 1,     August 2,     August 1,     August 2,  
Segment Net Sales   2003     2002     2003     2002  

 
   
   
   
 
Professional
  $ 244,111     $ 235,301     $ 751,671     $ 701,267  
Residential
    129,043       119,907       396,177       381,858  
Distribution
    43,039       50,452       96,987       118,825  
Other
    (21,669 )     (30,028 )     (58,509 )     (78,089 )
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
Total *
  $ 394,524     $ 375,632     $ 1,186,326     $ 1,123,861  
 
 
   
   
   
 
* Includes international sales of
  $ 69,140     $ 60,024     $ 230,151     $ 209,398  

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Change
in Accounting Principle by Segment (Unaudited)

                                   
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     
   
 
      August 1,     August 2,     August 1,     August 2,  
Segment Earnings (Loss)   2003     2002     2003     2002  

 
   
   
   
 
Professional1
  $ 42,235     $ 34,822     $ 133,415     $ 97,119  
Residential2
    13,205       12,161       46,215       39,938  
Distribution                                                                 
    2,327       2,311       (423 )     1,961  
Other
    (17,403 )     (16,575 )     (65,781 )     (59,669 )
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
Total
  $ 40,364     $ 32,719     $ 113,426     $ 79,349  
 
 
   
   
   
 


    1 Includes restructuring and other income of $14 thousand and $86 thousand for the three-month and nine-month periods in fiscal 2003, respectively. The nine-month period of fiscal 2002 includes $9,953 thousand of restructuring and other expense.
 
    2 Includes restructuring and other expense of $1,669 thousand and $1,561 thousand for the three-month and nine-month periods in fiscal 2003, respectively.

 


 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

                   
      August 1,     August 2,  
      2003     2002  
     
   
 
ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 15,725     $ 6  
Receivables, net
    373,173       341,891  
Inventories, net
    236,035       209,320  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    13,451       10,832  
Deferred income taxes
    42,299       36,477  
 
 
   
 
 
Total current assets
    680,683       598,526  
 
 
   
 
Property, plant, and equipment, net
    163,593       154,515  
Deferred income taxes
    4,196       9,721  
Goodwill and other assets, net
    94,232       93,908  
 
 
   
 
 
Total assets
  $ 942,704     $ 856,670  
 
 
   
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 250     $ 15,824  
Short-term debt
    5,784       8,011  
Accounts payable
    67,415       67,099  
Accrued liabilities
    239,707       216,523  
 
 
   
 
 
Total current liabilities
    313,156       307,457  
 
 
   
 
Long-term debt, less current portion
    178,703       178,768  
Other long-term liabilities
    10,231       7,429  
Stockholders’ equity
    440,614       363,016  
 
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 942,704     $ 856,670  
 
 
   
 

 


 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

                         
            Nine Months Ended  
           
 
            August 1,     August 2,  
            2003     2002  
           
   
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net earnings
  $ 75,996     $ 30,325  
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
               
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
          24,614  
 
Non-cash asset impairment write-off
    901       4,163  
 
Provision for depreciation and amortization
    22,093       20,609  
 
Gain on disposal of property, plant, and equipment
    (31 )     (718 )
 
Increase in deferred income tax asset
    (3,577 )     (2,550 )
 
Tax benefits related to employee stock option transactions
    1,916       1,420  
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
   
Receivables, net
    (116,838 )     (70,214 )
   
Inventories, net
    (9,597 )     25,341  
   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (3,004 )     257  
   
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    31,119       28,431  
 
 
   
 
       
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
    (1,022 )     61,678  
 
 
   
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
 
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
    (32,110 )     (32,866 )
 
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant, and equipment
    1,969       2,055  
 
Decrease in investment in affiliates
    1,000        
 
Increase in other assets
    (1,433 )     (2,847 )
 
Proceeds from sale of business
    1,016        
 
Acquisition, net of cash acquired
    (1,244 )      
 
 
   
 
     
Net cash used in investing activities
    (30,802 )     (33,658 )
 
 
   
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
 
Increase (decrease) in short-term debt
    4,628       (26,402 )
 
Repayments of long-term debt
    (15,825 )     (486 )
 
Increase in other long-term liabilities
    1,887       280  
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    6,639       11,827  
 
Purchases of common stock
    (9,629 )     (22,558 )
 
Dividends on common stock
    (4,503 )     (4,538 )
 
 
   
 
       
Net cash used in financing activities
    (16,803 )     (41,877 )
 
 
   
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    1,536       987  
 
 
   
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (47,091 )     (12,870 )
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period
    62,816       12,876  
 
 
   
 
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period
  $ 15,725     $ 6