ITW Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

• Revenue of $4.0 billion, an increase of 2% with organic growth of 5%
• Operating income of $972 million, an increase of 9%
• Operating margin of 24.2%, an increase of 150 bps
• GAAP EPS of $2.33, an increase of 10%
• Raising full year GAAP EPS guidance by $0.05 to a range of $9.45 to $9.85 per share

GLENVIEW, Ill., May 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  - Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) today reported its first quarter 2023 results.

“The ITW team delivered a solid start to the year with organic growth of five percent, operating margin expansion of 150 basis points, strong free cash flow, and double-digit EPS growth as we continue to demonstrate the performance power of our proprietary business model and the resilience of our diversified high-quality business portfolio,” said E. Scott Santi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “While the near-term economic outlook continues to be uncertain, I am confident that ITW remains well positioned to deliver best-in-class performance in any environment.”  

First Quarter 2023 Results
First quarter revenue of $4.0 billion increased two percent with organic revenue growth of five percent. Foreign currency translation impact and divestitures combined reduced revenue by three percent.

GAAP EPS increased 10 percent to $2.33, a new first quarter record, and included $0.06 of unfavorable foreign currency translation impact. Operating income increased nine percent to $972 million. Operating margin of 24.2 percent improved 150 basis points with enterprise initiatives contributing 100 basis points. Operating cash flow was $728 million, and free cash flow was $615 million, an increase of 147 percent, with a conversion rate to net income of 86 percent. The company repurchased $375 million of its own shares and the effective tax rate was 22.6 percent.

2023 Guidance
The company is raising its full-year GAAP EPS guidance to $9.45 to $9.85 per share which incorporates a projected lower tax rate for the full year in the range of 23.5 to 24 percent. This compares to previous guidance of $9.40 to $9.80 per share. The organic growth projection of three to five percent reflects current levels of demand and a risk adjustment for further slowing in certain end markets. Foreign currency translation impact and divestitures combined are expected to reduce revenue by one percent, resulting in total revenue growth of two to four percent. This compares to previous guidance of 1.5 to 3.5 percent. Operating margin is projected to be in the range of 24.5 to 25.5 percent, with approximately 100 basis points contribution from enterprise initiatives. Free cash flow is projected to be greater than 100 percent of net income and the company plans to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion of its own shares.

Non-GAAP Measures
This earnings release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in the attached supplemental reconciliation schedule. The estimated guidance of free cash flow conversion rate is based on assumptions that are difficult to predict, and estimated guidance for the most directly comparable GAAP measure and a reconciliation of this forward-looking estimate to its most directly comparable GAAP estimate have been omitted due to the unreasonable efforts required in connection with such a reconciliation and the lack of reliable forward-looking cash flow information.

Forward-looking Statements
This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding global supply chain challenges, expected impact of inflation including raw material inflation and rising interest rates, enterprise initiatives, future financial and operating performance, free cash flow and free cash flow conversion rate, organic and total revenue, operating and incremental margin, price/cost impact, statements regarding diluted income per share, restructuring expenses and related benefits, expected dividend payments, after-tax return on invested capital, effective tax rates, exchange rates, expected access to liquidity sources, expected capital allocation, expected timing and amount of share repurchases, end market economic and regulatory conditions, the impact of recent or potential acquisitions and/or divestitures, and the Company’s 2023 guidance. These statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors include those contained in ITW's Form 10-K for 2022.

About Illinois Tool Works
ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 200 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenue of $15.9 billion in 2022. The company’s seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 46,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture. www.itw.com

⁽¹⁾  Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was 22.6% and 23.1%, respectively.

⁽²⁾  Average invested capital is calculated using the total invested capital balances at the start of the period and at the end of the periods presented.

⁽³⁾  Returns for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were converted to an annual rate by multiplying the calculated return by 4.

⁽¹⁾  Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was 23.2%.

⁽²⁾  Average invested capital is calculated using the total invested capital balances at the start of the period and at the end of each quarter within the period presented.

A reconciliation of the 2022 effective tax rate excluding the fourth quarter 2022 discrete tax benefit of $32 million related to the utilization of capital loss carryforwards and the second quarter 2022 discrete tax benefit of $51 million related to the resolution of a U.S. tax audit is as follows: