• First quarter sales increase 2.6 percent to a record $486.4 million
• Net earnings per share for the first quarter up 29.6 percent to a record $0.70
• Company is well positioned as it enters key selling season
• Full-year earnings guidance raised

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2016-- The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today reported net earnings of $39.3 million, or $0.70 per share, on a net sales increase of 2.6 percent to $486.4 million for its first quarter ended January 29, 2016. In the comparable fiscal 2015 period, the company delivered net earnings of $31.0 million, or $0.54 per share, on net sales of $474.2 million.

“We are very encouraged by the positive start to the fiscal year, delivering record results for the first quarter,” said Michael J. Hoffman, Toro’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Our residential business benefitted from strong demand for zero-turn riding mowers. Strong sales of our landscape contractor equipment, increased demand for our specialty construction equipment and higher sales of golf irrigation products also contributed to the positive start to the fiscal year.”

“With an ongoing focus on innovation, we are excited about our new product lineup across our businesses for fiscal 2016. Most recently, our new golf equipment and irrigation products received a positive reception at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, California last week. New products such as the Workman® light-duty vehicle and the enhanced product offerings for our INFINITY® Series golf sprinkler were well received by those attending the show. We were also pleased by the excitement surrounding our new product offerings at the 2016 Sports Turf Managers Show that also took place in San Diego, California. Similarly, in the days ahead, the team will be busy preparing for the upcoming Rental Show in the end of February, where we expect to see positive opportunities in a key growth market.”

“Looking ahead to our primary selling season, we are well positioned across our businesses to drive retail sales and gain market share with our strong product portfolio. We remain optimistic as we prepare to execute on this positive momentum, while acknowledging the challenges we could encounter from a deteriorating economic environment or unfavorable weather conditions. However, as always, we will remain focused on those things within our control – delivering new product innovation, providing strong customer service and driving solid market performance.”

The company continues to expect revenue growth for fiscal 2016 to be about 4 percent, and now expects net earnings per share to be about $3.85 to $3.95 for the year. For the second quarter, the company expects net earnings per share to be about $1.75 to $1.80.

SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional

• Professional segment net sales for the first quarter were $338.8 million, flat to $339.7 million in the same period last year. Strong sales of landscape contractor equipment contributed positively to the results; however, this momentum was negatively impacted by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates. Demand for the BOSS® snow and ice management products was lower due to a lack of snowfall in the early winter months, which also affected the first quarter results.
• Professional segment earnings for the first quarter were $61.6 million, up $5.9 million from $55.7 million in the same period last year.

Residential

• Residential segment net sales for the first quarter were $144.3 million, up 7.1 percent from $134.7 million in the same period last year. This increase is primarily due to higher shipments of zero-turn riding mowers both domestically and internationally over the comparable period last fiscal year. Somewhat offsetting these increases were lower sales of snow product and walk power mowers compared to the same period last year.
• Residential segment earnings for the first quarter were $16.7 million, up $3.0 million from $13.7 million in the same period last year.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin as a percent of sales for the first quarter was 37.6 percent, an increase of 200 basis points from the same period last year. This increase was primarily due to the BOSS acquisition purchase accounting, which impacted the first quarter of fiscal 2015, resulting in a onetime adjustment. Productivity improvements, as well as lower commodity prices, also drove the improvement.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense as a percent of sales for the first quarter was 26.5 percent, an increase of 30 basis points from the same period last year. This increase was due to slightly higher expense across various categories, primarily including advertising, warehousing and employee incentive expenses.

First quarter operating earnings as a percent of sales were 11.1 percent, compared to 9.4 percent for the same period last year.

The effective tax rate for the first quarter was 26.9 percent, compared to 26.3 percent in the same period last year. The benefit received from the retroactive reenactment of the Federal Research and Engineering Tax Credit for calendar year 2015 was consistent with the prior year.

Accounts receivable at the end of the first quarter were $190.3 million, down 7.3 percent from the same period last year. Net inventories were $422.0 million, up 15.8 percent from the same period last year due to both residential snow throwers and BOSS snow plows, and residential and landscape contractor riding mower products. Trade payables were $211.2 million, up 8.0 percent from the same period last year.

About The Toro Company
The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, including turf, snow and ground engaging equipment and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With sales of $2.4 billion in fiscal 2015, Toro’s global presence extends to more than 90 countries. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, Toro and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers care for golf courses, landscapes, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural fields. For more information, visit www.thetorocompany.com.

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL
February 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. CST
www.thetorocompany.com/invest

The Toro Company will conduct its earnings call and webcast for investors beginning at 10:00 a.m. CST on February 18, 2016. 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 allocate extra time before the webcast begins to register and, if necessary, download and install audio software.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations of future events, and often can be identified by words such as "expect,” “strive,” “looking ahead,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “forecast,” “goal,” “optimistic,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “possible,” “may,” “likely,” “intend,” “can,” “seek,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect our operating results or financial position include: worldwide economic conditions, including slow or negative growth rates in global and domestic economies and weakened consumer confidence; disruption at our manufacturing or distribution facilities, including drug cartel-related violence affecting our maquiladora operations in Juarez, Mexico; fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials and components, including steel, engines, hydraulics and resins; the impact of abnormal weather patterns, including unfavorable weather conditions exacerbated by global climate change or otherwise; the impact of natural disasters and global pandemics; the level of growth or contraction in our key markets; government and municipal revenue, budget and spending levels; dependence on The Home Depot as a customer for our residential business; elimination of shelf space for our products at dealers or retailers; inventory adjustments or changes in purchasing patterns by our customers; our ability to develop and achieve market acceptance for new products; increased competition; the risks attendant to international operations and markets, including political, economic and/or social instability and tax policies in the countries in which we manufacture or sell our products; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; our relationships with our distribution channel partners, including the financial viability of our distributors and dealers; risks associated with acquisitions, including our acquisition of the BOSS^® professional snow and ice management business; management of our alliances or joint ventures, including Red Iron Acceptance, LLC; the costs and effects of enactment of, changes in and compliance with laws, regulations and standards, including those relating to consumer product safety, conflict mineral disclosure, taxation, healthcare, and environmental, health and safety matters; unforeseen product quality problems; loss of or changes in executive management or key employees; the occurrence of litigation or claims, including those involving intellectual property or product liability matters; and other risks and uncertainties described in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements made herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160218005159/en/

Source: The Toro Company

The Toro Company
Investor Relations
Heather Hille, 952-887-8923
Director, Investor Relations
heather.hille@toro.com
or
Media Relations
Branden Happel, 952-887-8930
Senior Manager, Public Relations
branden.happel@toro.com