The Toro Company Reports Record Results for Fiscal 2012

• Full-year sales increase to record $1.96 billion in fiscal 2012
• Professional businesses grow over 7 percent on strength of golf, landscape and micro-irrigation
• Operating earnings expand to 10.5 percent towards Destination 2014 target
• Net earnings per share for the year up 16 percent to record $2.14

BLOOMINGTON, MN.-- Dec. 5, 2012-- The Toro Company today reported net earnings of $129.5 million, or $2.14 per share, on a net sales increase of 4 percent to $1,958.7 million for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. In fiscal 2011, the company delivered net earnings of $117.7 million, or $1.85 per share, on net sales of $1,884 million.

For the fourth quarter, Toro reported net earnings of $0.3 million, on a net sales decrease of 7.8 percent to $339.3 million. In the comparable fiscal 2011 period, the company posted net earnings of $5 million, or $0.08 per share, on net sales of $368.1 million.

Earnings per share figures for all periods reported have been adjusted to reflect the company’s 2-for-1 stock split effective June 29, 2012.

“The Toro Company completed another record year with new highs for revenues and earnings per share,” said Michael J. Hoffman, Toro’s chairman and chief executive officer. “While pleased with our performance, it could have been even better if not for limited snowfall around the world that reduced snow thrower sales by almost 50 percent. Despite the weather challenge and a continued sluggish worldwide economy, Toro made tremendous progress in 2012.

New products and good execution helped grow our positions in golf equipment, landscape contractor and grounds, micro irrigation and residential mowing. Our investments in acquisitions to enter new markets and expand capacity for micro irrigation, are contributing and will fuel growth into the future. And our efforts on productivity are starting to gain traction, as we delivered another significant step towards our Destination 2014 operating earnings goal of 12 percent by the end of fiscal 2014.”

“For the quarter, retail sales activity for many of our products were strong this fall, which helped get field inventories in good shape heading into the upcoming season. The majority of the decline in sales for the quarter resulted from the lack of snow thrower shipments due to soft preseason demand. Other major product categories showed sales growth in the quarter, with positive momentum heading into the new fiscal year.”

“We are early in our fiscal 2013, and mindful of the challenging world-wide economic environment and, as always, acutely aware of the volatility of Mother Nature. Nonetheless, the outlook for our end markets appears promising. Golf rounds and revenues were up last year, housing and construction are showing signs of improvement, and the agriculture market continues to adopt more efficient methods of irrigation.

While we hope for better weather for our business, that is out of our control. We will concentrate on those actions that have made us successful: developing innovative products, serving our customers, executing in the marketplace, and engaging our employees to improve profitability as we pursue our Destination 2014 goals of additional revenue growth and further operating earnings expansion.”

The company expects revenue growth for fiscal 2013 to be about 4 to 5 percent, and net earnings to be about $2.35 to $2.40 per share. For the first quarter, the company expects net earnings to be about $0.40 to $0.45 per share, positively impacted by anticipated accelerated purchases of diesel products in advance of the Tier 4 price change.

SEGMENT RESULTS

PROFESSIONAL

Professional segment net sales for fiscal 2012 totaled $1,329.5 million, up 7.3 percent over last year. Sales of golf equipment and irrigation were up domestically on continued demand as golf courses replaced equipment and renovated aging irrigation systems. Landscape maintenance equipment increased on the success of new products and retail demand in markets not impacted by the drought.

Micro irrigation sales in the Americas increased significantly on improved capacity and dealer expansion that enabled Toro to better meet growing demand for agricultural irrigation. Recent acquisitions also contributed incremental sales for the year. International economic issues, particularly Europe, negatively impacted the sales of most professional businesses for the year. For the fourth quarter, professional segment net sales were $228.6 million, up 5.6 percent from the comparable fiscal 2011 period.

Professional segment earnings for fiscal 2012 totaled $232.1 million, up 13.2 percent from the prior year. For the fourth quarter, professional segment earnings were $20.8 million, up 21.2 percent from the comparable fiscal 2011 period.

RESIDENTIAL

Residential segment net sales for fiscal 2012 were $607.4 million, down from $623.9 million in fiscal 2011. Snow thrower sales were down about 50 percent for the year due to the lack of snowfall last winter and the resulting soft preseason demand in the fourth quarter. Shipments of walk power mowers and riding products were up for the year due in part to the successful launch of the TimeMaster™ 30 inch walk power mower. For the fourth quarter, residential segment net sales were $102 million, down 28.9 percent from the comparable fiscal 2011 period due to reduced demand for snow throwers.

Residential segment earnings for fiscal 2012 totaled $57.9 million, up $3.5 million or 6.4 percent from fiscal 2011, when a pre-tax charge of $4.7 million to account for one-time costs associated with a rework issue affecting walk power mowers resulted in a decline in earnings. For the fourth quarter, residential segment earnings were $6.7 million, down from $11.9 million in the comparable fiscal 2011 period.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for fiscal 2012 improved 60 basis points from last year to 34.4 percent. The majority of the margin expansion was due to realized price, coupled with productivity improvement, somewhat offset by higher materials costs. For the fourth quarter, gross margin was up 100 basis points to 33.3 percent.

Selling, general and administrative (SG and A) expense as a percent of sales decreased 10 basis points to 23.9 percent for fiscal 2012. For the fourth quarter, SG and A expenses were down $0.8 million, but increased 230 basis points compared to last year’s fourth quarter to 32.1 percent, on lower sales volumes.

Operating earnings as a percent of sales improved 70 basis points to 10.5 percent for fiscal 2012. For the fourth quarter, operating earnings were 1.2 percent of sales compared to 2.5 percent last year.

Interest expense for fiscal 2012 was $16.9 million, down 0.4 percent compared to the fiscal 2011. For the fourth quarter, interest expense totaled $4.1 million, down 5.9 percent from the same period last year.

The effective tax rate for the fiscal year was 34 percent compared with 32.7 percent last year, primarily due to the expiration of the Federal Research and Engineering Tax Credit.

Accounts receivable at the end of the fiscal year totaled $147.4 million, down 0.5 percent from the prior year period. Net inventories were $251.1 million, up 12.6 percent from the end of fiscal 2011 due to planned inventory build of diesel products to meet anticipated customer demand as part of the Tier 4 transition. Trade payables were $124.8 million, up 5.7 percent compared with last year.

About The Toro Company

The Toro Company is a leading worldwide provider of turf and landscape maintenance equipment, irrigation technologies and outdoor lighting solutions to help customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, and agricultural fields.