Commenting on the results, Air Products' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi said, "For our fiscal fourth quarter, the team at Air Products delivered adjusted EPS up 13 percent over last year and industry-leading adjusted EBITDA margin of more than 44 percent. We also completed the strategic divestiture of the LNG business at the end of September, demonstrating our commitment to our core industrial gas business while providing clean hydrogen at scale to serve significant demand in the heavy transportation and industrial sectors. The 15-year supply agreement we signed with TotalEnergies to provide 70,000 tons of green hydrogen annually starting in 2030 is a great example of our ability to sign offtake agreements that are aligned to our traditional on-site business model. Air Products also continues to generate strong and steady cash flow that supports disciplined capital allocation and our long history of returning cash to shareholders. This year, we expect to pay out approximately $1.6 billion in dividends to our shareholders."
Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter Results by Business Segment
- Americas sales of $1.3 billion were down three percent versus the prior year, as five percent lower energy cost pass-through and one percent unfavorable currency were partially offset by three percent higher pricing. Volume was flat as higher on-site was offset by lower merchant demand. Operating income of $448 million increased 13 percent and adjusted EBITDA of $668 million increased 11 percent, in each case primarily due to higher pricing and favorable mix driven by a one-time asset sale associated with an early contract termination at the request of a customer and higher hydrogen demand. Operating margin of 34.2 percent increased 480 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin of 51.1 percent increased 660 basis points, including positive impacts from lower energy cost pass-through of approximately 150 and 200 basis points, respectively.
- Asia sales of $861 million increased seven percent from the prior year on seven percent higher volumes and one percent higher energy cost pass-through, partially offset by one percent lower pricing. Operating income of $244 million increased 24 percent and adjusted EBITDA of $383 million increased 21 percent, in each case primarily due to higher volumes and lower costs. Operating margin of 28.4 percent increased 380 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin of 44.5 percent increased 490 basis points.
- Europe sales of $731 million increased three percent from the prior year as two percent higher pricing and two percent favorable currency were partially offset by one percent lower energy cost pass-through. Volume was flat as new on-site assets were offset by lower merchant demand. Operating income of $207 million increased 23 percent and adjusted EBITDA of $292 million increased 17 percent, in each case primarily due to higher pricing. Operating margin of 28.3 percent increased 470 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin of 40.0 percent increased 490 basis points.
- Middle East and India equity affiliates' income of $92 million was flat with the prior year.
- Corporate and other sales of $257 million decreased 11 percent compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower equipment sales and higher cost estimates related to sale of equipment activities.
Outlook
Air Products expects full-year fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS guidance* of $12.70 to $13.00. For the fiscal 2025 first quarter, Air Products' adjusted EPS guidance* is $2.75 to $2.85.
Air Products expects capital expenditures* in the range of $4.5 billion to $5.0 billion for full-year fiscal 2025.
Air Products completed the divestiture of its LNG business on September 30, 2024; therefore, this business will not contribute to fiscal 2025 results and, accordingly, is not reflected in fiscal 2025 guidance. Refer to page 9 in earnings release with all financial tables for additional information.
*Management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, the Company’s forecasted range of adjusted EPS or capital expenditures to a comparable GAAP range. Air Products provides adjusted EPS guidance on a continuing operations basis, excluding the impact of certain items that management believes are not representative of the Company's underlying business performance, such as the incurrence of costs for cost reduction actions and impairment charges, or the recognition of gains or losses on certain disclosed items. It is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to predict the timing or occurrence of these events or the potential for other transactions that may impact future GAAP EPS. Similarly, it is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to reconcile forecasted capital expenditures to future cash used for investing activities because management is not able to identify the timing or occurrence of future investment activity, which is driven by management's assessment of competing opportunities at the time the Company enters into transactions. Furthermore, it is not possible to identify the potential significance of these events in advance, but any of these events, if they were to occur, could have a significant effect on the Company's future GAAP results. |
Earnings Teleconference
Access the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter earnings teleconference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on November 7, 2024 by calling 773-305-6853 and entering passcode 9129758 or by accessing the Event Details page on Air Products’ Investor Relations website.