Third quarter sales increased 6.0% year over year to $927.9 million

EPS of $0.92, up 21.7% versus 2023

Raising fiscal 2024 EPS guidance

Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) (Donaldson or the Company), a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, today reported third quarter fiscal 2024 generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net earnings of $113.5 million, compared with $93.7 million in fiscal 2023. Third quarter 2024 GAAP earnings per share (EPS)¹ were $0.92 compared with 2023 earnings per share of $0.76.

“The Donaldson team delivered outstanding performance in the third quarter, generating record sales and earnings with robust margins, while continuing to set a stronger foundation for future profitable growth through ongoing strategic investments,” said Tod Carpenter, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Despite mixed end-market conditions, we maintained focus on our customers and delivered our technology-led filtration products and services across our diversified portfolio of businesses.”

“Driven by third quarter results and our expectations for strong performance in the fourth quarter, we are increasing our earnings outlook for the full year. Looking ahead, we remain committed to returning value to our shareholders through the execution of our longer-term strategic initiatives and continued progress towards our fiscal 2026 Investor Day targets.”

________________________

¹ All EPS figures refer to diluted EPS.

Third Quarter Operating Results

Sales of $927.9 million were up 6.0% compared with 2023 as a result of volume growth and pricing benefits.

Mobile Solutions segment (Mobile) sales increased 5.5% from higher volumes and pricing. Aftermarket sales increased 10.9% driven by continued market share gains and destocking in the prior year period. On-Road and Off-Road sales decreased 6.0% and 9.8%, respectively, from a decline in global equipment production.

Industrial Solutions segment (Industrial) sales increased 2.9% as a result of volume growth and pricing. Aerospace and Defense sales grew 5.9% supported by robust Aerospace end-market conditions. Industrial Filtration Solutions (IFS) sales grew 2.4% driven by dust collection replacement part and Power Generation sales.

Life Sciences segment (Life Sciences) sales increased 24.2% from strong volume growth resulting from Bioprocessing Equipment sales timing and Disk Drive.

Gross margin was 35.6%, up 260 basis points from 33.0% in 2023 driven by leverage on higher sales, pricing benefits and input cost deflation.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales were 20.1%, an increase from 18.8% in the prior year, due to increased hiring and investments in the scaling of acquired Life Sciences businesses.

Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) of 15.5% increased 130 basis points year over year from 14.2% in 2023 as a result of gross margin improvement, partially offset by an increase in operating expenses.

Interest expense was $5.0 million, approximately flat compared with prior year as lower debt levels offset higher interest rates. Other income, net increased to $5.4 million compared with $2.6 million in 2023, primarily from foreign exchange gains versus foreign exchange losses in the prior year period. The Company’s effective tax rate was 21.2% versus 22.9% a year ago driven by an increase in discrete tax benefits.

Year-to-date, Donaldson paid $90.3 million in dividends and repurchased 1.5% of its outstanding shares for $114.0 million.

Updated Fiscal 2024 Outlook

Full-year EPS is forecast to be between $3.33 and $3.39, up from prior guidance of between $3.24 and $3.32 and compared with fiscal 2023 GAAP and adjusted² EPS of $2.90 and $3.04, respectively. Sales are expected to increase between 4% and 6% year over year, with a pricing benefit of approximately 2% and a negligible impact from currency translation.

Mobile sales are forecast to increase between 2% and 4% versus 2023. Off-Road sales and On-Road sales are expected to decrease low double-digits and low single-digits, respectively due to softening end-market demand and related reductions in global equipment production. Aftermarket sales are forecast to grow mid-single digits, benefitting from market share gains and destocking in the prior year period.

Industrial sales are expected to increase between 6% and 8% compared with prior year. IFS sales are expected to increase mid-single digits as a result of sales momentum in dust collection and Power Generation. Aerospace and Defense sales, driven by strong end-market conditions, are expected to grow low double-digits.

Life Sciences sales are forecast to grow mid-teens year over year supported by growth across all businesses including Food & Beverage, Bioprocessing Equipment and Consumables, and Disk Drive.

Operating margin is expected to be between 15.0% and 15.4% versus 14.0%, or 14.6% on an adjusted basis, in 2023. Year-over-year gross margin improvement is forecast to offset an increase in operating expenses, driven primarily by investments in the Life Sciences segment.

Interest expense is forecast to be approximately $22 million and other income is expected to be between $15 million and $17 million. Donaldson projects a fiscal 2024 effective income tax rate of between 23% and 24%.

Capital expenditures are forecast to be between $90 million and $105 million and free cash flow conversion is expected to be between 95% and 105%. For the full year, Donaldson anticipates repurchasing approximately 2% of its shares outstanding.

________________________

² Fiscal 2023 adjusted results exclude $21.8 million of non-recurring charges largely related to the Company’s organizational redesign as well as costs associated with exiting a lower-margin customer program. The tables attached to this press release include a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.

Miscellaneous

The Company will webcast its third quarter fiscal 2024 earnings conference call today at 9:00 a.m. CT. To listen to the webcast, visit the “Events & Presentations” section of Donaldson’s Investor Relations website (IR.Donaldson.com), and click on the “listen to webcast” option. The webcast replay will be available at approximately 12:00 p.m. CT today. Also available on the website is the Company’s supplemental quarterly earnings presentation.

Statements in this release regarding future events and expectations, such as forecasts, plans, trends and projections relating to the Company’s business and financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are identified by words or phrases such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “will allow,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date such statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company’s performance and could cause the Company’s actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed. These factors include, but are not limited to, challenges in global operations; impacts of global economic, industrial and political conditions on product demand; impacts from unexpected events, including natural disasters; effects of unavailable raw materials or material cost inflation; inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; inability to meet customer demand; inability to maintain competitive advantages; threats from disruptive technologies; effects of highly competitive markets with pricing pressure; exposure to customer concentration in certain cyclical industries; inability to manage productivity improvements; inability to achieve commitments to ESG; results of execution of any acquisition, divestiture and other strategic transactions; vulnerabilities associated with information technology systems and security; inability to protect and enforce intellectual property rights; costs associated with governmental laws and regulations; impacts of foreign currency fluctuations; and effects of changes in capital and credit markets. These and other factors are described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. The results presented herein are preliminary, unaudited and subject to revision until the Company files its results with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q.

About Donaldson Company, Inc.

Founded in 1915, Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) is a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving a broad range of industries and advanced markets. Diverse, skilled employees at over 140 locations on six continents partner with customers—from small business owners to R&D organizations and the world’s biggest OEM brands. Donaldson solves complex filtration challenges through three primary segments: Mobile Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Life Sciences. Additional information is available at www.Donaldson.com.