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Xylem reports first quarter 2021 results

About the entity

Xylem Inc.
Xylem is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in a variety of settings.

Themes

  • Xylem reports first quarter 2021 results
  • Revenue growth 12% on a reported basis, 8% organically
  • Double-digit orders growth across all business segments, reflecting strong commercial momentum and underlying demand in critical infrastructure
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.1%, up 480 basis points; net income as a percentage of revenue was 6.9%, up 350 basis points
  • Reported net income of $87 million or $0.48 per share; adjusted net income of $102 million or $0.56 per share
  • Raising full-year organic revenue guidance to a range of 5% to 7%, and adjusted earnings per share to a range of $2.50 to $2.70

Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, today reported first quarter 2021 revenue of $1.26 billion. Revenues grew 12 percent on a reported basis, and 8 percent organically, reflecting demand growth across all segments.

First quarter adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin grew 480 basis points to 17.1 percent. The margin expansion was driven by volume benefits from strong demand, productivity gains and cost discipline. Xylem generated net income of $87 million, or $0.48 per share, and adjusted net income of $102 million, or $0.56 per share, which excludes the impact of restructuring, realignment and special charges.

“Our Xylem team performed exceptionally well in the first quarter, despite ongoing pandemic challenges around the world. I’m so proud of how the team has served our customers and communities,” said Patrick Decker, Xylem’s president and CEO. “We came into the year with growing momentum, and are taking full advantage of resurgent demand alongside broader economic recovery, posting double-digit orders growth across all segments.”

"The positive market signals we are seeing, and our team’s proven ability to manage through a challenging supply chain environment, give us confidence about the remainder of this year and beyond. On that basis, we are raising our guidance for the full year, for both top-line growth and earnings.”

Updated Outlook

Xylem now expects full year organic revenue growth to be in the range of 5 to 7 percent, and 8 to 10 percent on a reported basis. This represents an increase from the Company’s previous full-year organic revenue guidance of 3 to 5 percent, and 6 to 8 percent on a reported basis. Full-year adjusted earnings per share is now expected to be in the range of $2.50 to $2.70, up from the previous range of $2.35 to $2.60. The increased guidance primarily reflects commercial momentum and broad demand recovery.

Further 2021 planning assumptions are included in Xylem’s first quarter 2021 earnings materials posted at www.xylem.com/investors. Excluding revenue, Xylem provides guidance only on a non-GAAP basis due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that would be included in GAAP earnings, such as discrete tax items, without unreasonable effort.

First Quarter Segment Results

Water Infrastructure

Xylem’s Water Infrastructure segment consists of its portfolio of businesses serving wastewater transport and treatment, clean water delivery, and dewatering.

  • First quarter 2021 revenue was $509 million, up 11 percent organically, and up 16 percent as reported, compared with first quarter 2020. Double-digit growth in both utilities and industrial end markets was driven by strong demand in wastewater applications and project deliveries in Europe, along with strength in Emerging Markets compared to a COVID-challenged environment in the first quarter of the prior year.
  • First quarter adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.3 percent, up 430 basis points from the prior year. Reported operating income for the segment was $71 million and adjusted operating income, which excludes $5 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $76 million. The segment reported operating margin was 13.9 percent, up 500 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin rose 490 basis points to 14.9 percent. Strong productivity and volume leverage offset inflation.

Applied Water

Xylem’s Applied Water segment consists of its portfolio of businesses in industrial, commercial building, and residential applications.

  • First quarter 2021 revenue was $393 million, representing 13 percent organic growth year-overyear, and 16 percent growth on a reported basis. Double-digit growth from strong demand in industrial and residential end markets was supplemented by mid-single digit growth in the commercial end market.
  • First quarter adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.1 percent, up 250 basis points from the prior year. Reported operating income for the segment was $66 million and adjusted operating income, which excludes $1 million of restructuring and realignment costs and $1 million of special charges, was $68 million. The segment reported operating margin was 16.8 percent, up 290 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin rose 280 basis points to 17.3 percent. Strong productivity, cost savings and volume leverage more than offset inflation.

Measurement & Control Solutions

Xylem’s Measurement & Control Solutions segment consists of its portfolio of businesses in smart metering, network technologies, advanced infrastructure analytics and analytic instrumentation.

  • First quarter 2021 revenue was $354 million, flat organically and up 2 percent on a reported basis, as modest growth in water applications from strong demand in the test business was offset by declines in energy applications from COVID-19 related delays on smart metrology deployments.
  • First quarter adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.5 percent, up 770 basis points from the prior year. Reported operating income for the segment was $9 million and adjusted operating income, which excludes $2 million of restructuring and realignment costs, was $11 million. The segment reported operating margin was 2.5 percent, up 600 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin rose 600 basis points to 3.1 percent. Productivity gains and the effect of lapping a one-time warranty charge in the same period of the prior year more than offset inflation and timing delays on smart meter deployments.

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