For the quarter, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $2.62 increased 13 percent over the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA of $1,081 million was up 11 percent over the prior year, due to higher pricing, higher equity affiliates' income and higher volumes, which were partially offset by higher costs driven by inflation, higher supply chain costs, and planned maintenance activities, as well as unfavorable currency due to the strengthening of the dollar. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 33.9 percent decreased 360 basis points, primarily driven by higher energy cost pass-through, which negatively impacted margin by approximately 500 basis points.
Third quarter sales of $3.2 billion increased 22 percent over the prior year on 15 percent higher energy cost pass-through, seven percent higher pricing and five percent higher volumes, partially offset by five percent unfavorable currency. Volume growth was driven by new assets, recovery in hydrogen in the Americas, better merchant demand, and higher sale of equipment activity. Pricing improved in the Americas, Asia and Europe—the Company's three largest segments.
Commenting on the results, Air Products' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi said, "Our people across the globe are executing on our strategy, which is fundamentally based on doing two things at the same time: running our base industrial gas business efficiently and continuing to invest in and grow it, while also being the first-mover in low- and zero-carbon hydrogen projects that help the world decarbonize and drive the broader energy transition. Despite significant, continued challenges in the world, our team’s hard work and commitment are enabling the strength and stability of our business to shine through, as evidenced in our results this quarter."
Fiscal Third Quarter Results by Business Segment
- Americas sales of $1,416 million were up 33 percent over the prior year on 22 percent higher energy cost pass-through, eight percent higher pricing, and four percent higher volumes, partially offset by one percent unfavorable currency. Operating income of $299 increased five percent and adjusted EBITDA of $481 million increased three percent on the higher pricing and higher volumes in the base business, partially offset by costs for inflation, higher planned maintenance, and higher supply chain costs as well as favorable one-time items in the prior year. Operating margin of 21.1 percent decreased 580 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin of 33.9 percent decreased 980 basis points, primarily due to higher energy cost pass-through, which lowered operating margin and adjusted EBITDA margin by approximately 450 basis points and 800 basis points, respectively.
- Asia sales of $751 million were flat versus the prior year, as two percent higher volumes and two percent higher pricing were offset by four percent unfavorable currency. Operating income of $211 million decreased four percent and adjusted EBITDA of $324 million decreased five percent, as the favorable volumes and pricing were more than offset by unfavorable currency as well as costs for higher planned maintenance, inflation, and higher supply chain costs. Operating margin of 28.0 percent decreased 110 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin of 43.1 percent decreased 230 basis points.
- Europe sales of $740 million increased 23 percent over the prior year on 24 percent higher energy cost pass-through and 17 percent higher pricing across all product lines and sub-regions, partially offset by 15 percent unfavorable currency and three percent lower volumes. Operating income of $137 million increased three percent and adjusted EBITDA of $207 million increased four percent, primarily driven by higher pricing, which more than offset lower volumes, higher power costs and unfavorable currency. Adjusted EBITDA was also positively impacted by higher equity affiliates' income. Operating margin of 18.6 percent decreased 380 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin of 28.0 percent decreased 500 basis points, predominantly due to the higher energy cost pass-through, which lowered operating margin and adjusted EBITDA margin by approximately 450 basis points and 700 basis points, respectively.
- Middle East and India equity affiliates' income of $67 million was up $50 million over the prior year, primarily from the Jazan joint venture.
- Corporate and other sales of $247 million increased 48 percent over the prior year, driven by higher sale of equipment activity. This activity drove improvements in both operating income and adjusted EBITDA.
Outlook
Air Products has maintained full-year fiscal 2022 adjusted EPS guidance of $10.20 to $10.40, up 14 percent at midpoint, over prior year adjusted EPS. For the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, Air Products' adjusted EPS guidance is $2.68 to $2.88, up seven to 15 percent over fiscal 2021 fourth quarter adjusted EPS.
Air Products expects capital expenditures of over $4.5 billion for full-year fiscal 2022.
Management has provided adjusted EPS guidance on a continuing operations basis, which excludes the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance, such as the incurrence of additional costs for cost reduction actions and impairment charges, or the recognition of gains or losses on 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 or the effective tax rate. Similarly, it is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to reconcile our forecasted capital expenditures to future cash used for investing activities because we are unable to identify the timing or occurrence of our future investment activity, which is driven by our assessment of competing opportunities at the time we enter 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 our future GAAP results. Management therefore is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, the Company’s forecasted range of adjusted EPS, the effective tax rate and our capital expenditures to a comparable GAAP range.
Earnings Teleconference
Access the fiscal 2022 third quarter earnings teleconference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on August 4, 2022 by calling 323-701-0160 and entering passcode 5156956 or by accessing the Event Details page on Air Products’ Investor Relations website.