The Toro Company has reported results for its fiscal fourth-quarter ended Oct. 31, 2022.

“We delivered record top and bottom line results in the quarter and for fiscal 2022, with full-year net sales exceeding four billion dollars for the first time in company history,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “In the fourth quarter, professional segment demand was broad-based. Our biggest constraint remained our ability to fulfill the heightened backlog of orders given the current supply chain environment. For the residential segment, retail demand continued to normalize, reflecting more typical seasonal trends and weather patterns. Notably, this demand normalization is building off the higher base we have established over the past few years with our refreshed product line-up, expanded channel, and enhanced brand marketing.”

Net sales for the fourth quarter came in at $1,172 million, up 22% year-over-year. Total revenue for the year was $4.51 billion vs. $3.96 billion for 2021, a 14% increase.

Outlook

“We have started fiscal 2023 with great momentum, supported by substantial order backlogs for products in key professional end markets and expected benefits from our pricing and productivity initiatives,” continued Olson. “We believe we are in a strong position to capitalize on growth opportunities with our innovative product line-up, trusted brands, and our extensive distribution and service networks. While we acknowledge the heightened level of macroeconomic uncertainty, we expect to benefit from our well-established market leadership, along with the essential nature and regular replacement of our products.

“We have confidence in our ability to navigate the headwinds in today's macro environment. We will remain agile and flexible, guided by our enterprise strategic priorities of accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering people. With this focus, we are prioritizing investments in the key technology areas of alternative power, smart-connected, and autonomous solutions for long-term sustainable growth, with the intent to leverage these investments across our extensive portfolio.”

For fiscal 2023, management expects net sales growth in the range of 7% to 10% and *adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $4.70 to $4.90. The estimated *adjusted diluted EPS range excludes the tax benefits recorded as excess tax deductions for stock compensation.

FOURTH-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional Segment

  • Professional segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $944.7 million, up 29% from $732.5 million in the same period last year. The increase was driven primarily by net price realization, incremental revenue from the Intimidator Group acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, and higher shipments of zero-turn mowers, golf and grounds equipment, and snow and ice management solutions.
  • Full-year fiscal 2022 professional segment net sales were $3.43 billion, up 17.1% from $2.93 billion last year. The increase was primarily due to net price realization and the Intimidator Group acquisition.

Residential Segment

  • Residential segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $223.5 million, down 0.8% from $225.2 million in the same period last year. The decrease was primarily driven by lower sales of walk-power and zero-turn riding mowers and portable-power products, largely offset by net price realization and increased shipments of snow products.
  • Full-year fiscal 2022 residential segment net sales were $1.07 billion, up 5.8% from $1.01 billion last year. The increase was primarily due to net price realization and increased shipments of zero-turn riding mowers and snow products, partially offset by lower sales of walk-power mowers and portable-power products.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for the fourth quarter was 34%, compared with 30.1% for the same prior-year period. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to net price realization, productivity improvements, and favorable mix, partially offset by higher material, freight and manufacturing costs, as well as the addition of the Intimidator Group at a lower initial gross margin than the company average.

For fiscal 2022, gross margin was 33.3%, compared to 33.8% for fiscal 2021. *Adjusted gross margin for fiscal 2022 was 33.4%, compared with 33.8% in fiscal 2021. The decreases in reported and *adjusted gross margin were primarily due to higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs, and the Intimidator Group acquisition, partially offset by net price realization and productivity improvements.

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