NewMarket Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results

  • Full Year Net Income of $190.9 Million and Earnings Per Share of $17.71
  • Petroleum Additives Full Year Shipments Strong, Up 11.7%
  • 566,671 Shares Repurchased in 2021

Richmond, VA, February 2, 2022 – NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas E. Gottwald, released the following earnings report of the Company’s operations for the fourth quarter and full year 2021.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $17.2 million, or $1.65 per share, compared to net income of $66.9 million, or $6.12 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2020. Net income for 2021 was $190.9 million, or $17.71 per share, compared to $270.6 million or $24.64 per share, for 2020. Prior year net income includes a gain of $16.5 million related to the sale of a non-operating parcel of real estate.

Sales for the petroleum additives segment for the fourth quarter of 2021 were $573.4 million, up from $525.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Shipments decreased 1.6% between periods, with decreases in both lubricant additives and fuel additives shipments. Petroleum additives operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $40.7 million, compared to $84.3 million for the same period last year. The decrease was mainly due to higher raw material and operating costs, partially offset by increased selling prices.

For the year, petroleum additives sales were $2.3 billion compared to sales in 2020 of $2.0 billion. The increase was mainly due to higher shipments, increased selling prices and changes in foreign currency. Shipments increased 11.7% between periods, with increases in both lubricant additives and fuel additives shipments across all regions except Europe, which reported a decrease in fuel additives shipments. Petroleum additives operating profit for 2021 was $281.1 million compared to $333.2 million for 2020. The decrease was due mainly to higher raw material and operating costs, partially offset by increased selling prices and higher shipments. Petroleum additives operating margin for 2021 was 12.0% compared to 16.7% in 2020.

Throughout the year, we have continued to see our operating margins decline mainly due to the prolonged period of escalating raw material costs. While we have made some progress in adjusting our selling prices to offset the effects of the higher costs, we have not been able to adjust sufficiently to offset the cost increases. We continue to see a lag between when price increases go into effect and when we begin to see margin recovery. This lag will continue until we see a period where raw material prices stabilize. We have also seen significant increases in many elements of our operating costs such as utilities, logistics, insurance, and third-party manufacturing services. In addition, the worldwide supply chain disruptions continue to negatively impact our business. Margin recovery and cost control will be priorities throughout 2022 so that we will return to our historical profit margin range. We will also be working hard to resolve continuing supply chain issues to meet our customers’ growing needs, and we expect to see improvement in the supply chain and in our performance as the year unfolds.

During 2021, we paid dividends of $85.9 million, repurchased 566,671 shares of our common stock for a total of $196.2 million and funded capital expenditures of $78.9 million.

As we look forward to 2022 and beyond, we expect continued strength in our petroleum additives sales and shipments. Our views toward the fundamentals of our industry remain unchanged with the petroleum additives market growing at 1% to 2% for the foreseeable future, and we expect to exceed that growth rate.

We continue to make decisions to promote long-term value for our shareholders and customers, and we remain focused on our long-term objectives. This is evidenced by our ongoing investments in supply capability and our technology- driven initiatives. We believe the fundamentals of how we run our business – a long-term view, safety-first culture, customer-focused solutions, technology-driven product offerings, and world-class supply chain capability – will continue to be beneficial for all our stakeholders.

Sincerely,
Thomas E. Gottwald

The petroleum additives segment consists of the North America (the United States and Canada), Latin America (Mexico, Central America, and South America), Asia Pacific, and Europe/Middle East/Africa/India (Europe or EMEAI) regions.

The Company has disclosed the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA and the related calculation in the schedules included with this earnings release. EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations before the deduction of interest and financing expenses, income taxes, depreciation (on property, plant and equipment) and amortization (on intangibles and lease right-of-use assets). The Company believes that even though this item is not required by or presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this additional measure enhances understanding of the Company’s performance and period to period comparability. The Company believes that this item should not be considered an alternative to net income determined under GAAP.

As a reminder, a conference call and Internet webcast is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 3, 2022 to review fourth quarter and full year 2021 financial results. You can access the conference call live by dialing 1-888-506-0062 (domestic) or 1-973-528-0011 (international) and requesting the NewMarket conference call. To avoid delays, callers should dial in five minutes early. A teleconference replay of the call will be available until February 10, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. EST by dialing 1-877-481-4010 (domestic) or 1-919-882-2331 (international). The replay passcode number is 44141. The call will also be broadcast via the Internet and can be accessed through the Company’s website at www.NewMarket.com or www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2001/44141. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days.

NewMarket Corporation, through its subsidiaries Afton Chemical Corporation and Ethyl Corporation, develops, manufactures, blends, and delivers chemical additives that enhance the performance of petroleum products. From custom-formulated additive packages to market-general additives, the NewMarket family of companies provides the world with the technology to make engines run smoother, machines last longer, and fuels burn cleaner.

Some of the information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although NewMarket’s management believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the availability of raw materials and distribution systems; disruptions at production facilities, including single-sourced facilities; hazards common to chemical businesses; the ability to respond effectively to technological changes in our industry; failure to protect our intellectual property rights; sudden, sharp or prolonged raw material price increases; competition from other manufacturers; current and future governmental regulations; the gain or loss of significant customers; failure to attract and retain a highly-qualified workforce; an information technology system failure or security breach; the occurrence or threat of extraordinary events, including natural disasters; terrorist attacks and health-related epidemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to operating outside of the United States; political, economic, and regulatory factors concerning our products; the impact of substantial indebtedness on our operational and financial flexibility; the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; resolution of environmental liabilities or legal proceedings; limitation of our insurance coverage; our inability to realize expected benefits from investment in our infrastructure or from recent or future acquisitions, or our inability to successfully integrate recent or future acquisitions into our business; the underperformance of our pension assets resulting in additional cash contributions to our pension plans; and other factors detailed from time to time in the reports that NewMarket files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available to shareholders upon request.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by NewMarket in the foregoing discussion speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this discussion, or elsewhere, might not occur.

FOR INVESTOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian D. Paliotti
Investor Relations
Phone: 804.788.5555
Fax: 804.788.5688
Email: investorrelations@newmarket.com

NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT RESULTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per-share amounts, unaudited)
                           
  Fourth Quarter Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2021 2020 2021 2020
Revenue:        
Petroleum additives $573,387   $525,212   $2,343,942   $2,001,567  
All other  3,180   2,569   12,168   9,364  
Total $576,567   $527,781   $2,356,110   $2,010,931  
Segment operating profit:        
Petroleum additives $40,656   $84,323   $281,055   $333,241  
All other  (727)  (2,051)  (1,525)  (100) 
Segment operating profit 39,929   82,272   279,530   333,141  
Corporate unallocated expense (4,623)  (6,481)  (21,214)  (21,744) 
Interest and financing expenses (9,661)  (5,753)  (34,218)  (26,328) 
Other income (expense), net 4,325   6,285   23,453   46,218  
Income before income tax expense $29,970   $76,323   $247,551   $331,287  
Net income $17,206   $66,884   $190,908   $270,568  
Earnings per share – basic and diluted $1.65   $6.12   $17.71   $24.64  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per-share amounts, unaudited)
                           
  Fourth Quarter Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2021 2020 2021 2020
Net sales $576,567   $527,781   $2,356,110   $2,010,931  
Cost of goods sold 469,833   377,001   1,808,403   1,415,899  
Gross profit 106,734   150,780   547,707   595,032  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 34,594   37,026   145,973   142,863  
Research, development, and testing expenses 36,711   38,199   143,952   140,367  
Operating profit 35,429   75,555   257,782   311,802  
Interest and financing expenses, net 9,661   5,753   34,218   26,328  
Other income (expense), net 4,202   6,521   23,987   45,813  
Income before income tax expense 29,970   76,323   247,551   331,287  
Income tax expense 12,764   9,439   56,643   60,719  
Net income $17,206   $66,884   $190,908   $270,568  
Earnings per share – basic and diluted $1.65   $6.12   $17.71   $24.64  
Cash dividends declared per share $2.10   $1.90   $8.00   $7.60  
 
 
 
 
 

 
NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts, unaudited)
               
  December 31,
2021
 December 31,
2020
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $83,304   $125,172  
Marketable securities 375,918    
Trade and other accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses
 391,779   336,395  
Inventories 498,539   401,031  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 38,633   35,480  
Total current assets 1,388,173   898,078  
     
     
Property, plant, and equipment, net 676,770   665,147  
Intangibles (net of amortization) and goodwill 127,752   129,944  
Prepaid pension cost 242,604   137,069  
Operating lease right-of-use assets 68,402   61,329  
     
Deferred charges and other assets 54,735   42,308  
Total assets $2,558,436   $1,933,875  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $246,097   $189,937  
Accrued expenses 85,103   78,422  
Dividends payable 16,648   15,184  
Income taxes payable 4,442   3,760  
  Operating lease liabilities  15,709   13,410  
Current portion of long-term debt 349,434    
Other current liabilities 7,654   11,742  
Total current liabilities 725,087   312,455  
Long-term debt 789,853   598,848  
Operating lease liabilities – noncurrent 52,591   48,324  
Other noncurrent liabilities 228,776   214,424  
Total liabilities 1,796,307   1,174,051  
Shareholders’ equity:    
Common stock and paid-in capital (with no par value; issued and outstanding shares – 10,362,722 at December 31, 2021 and 10,921,377 at December 31, 2020)
   717  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (82,227)  (173,164) 
Retained earnings 844,356   932,271  
Total shareholders’ equity 762,129   759,824  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $2,558,436   $1,933,875  
 
 
 

 
NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW DATA
(In thousands, unaudited)
               
  Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2021 2020
Net income $190,908   $270,568  
Depreciation and amortization 84,320   84,002  
Unrealized (gain) loss on marketable securities 7,440    
Cash pension and postretirement contributions (10,342)  (10,655) 
Working capital changes (116,355)  (54,089) 
Deferred income tax expense 1,978   7,554  
Purchases of marketable securities (393,434)   
     
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities 10,957    
Capital expenditures (78,934)  (93,316) 
Issuance of 2.70% senior notes 395,052    
Debt issuance costs (3,897)  (1,349) 
Net borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit facility 148,000   (44,678) 
Repurchases of common stock (196,220)  (101,434) 
Dividends paid (85,910)  (83,417) 
Proceeds from sale of land   20,000  
Gain on sale of land   (16,483) 
All other 4,569   4,072  
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents $(41,868)  $(19,225) 
 
 

 
NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, unaudited)
                           
  Fourth Quarter Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2021 2020 2021 2020
Net Income $17,206   $66,884   $190,908   $270,568  
Add:        
Interest and financing expenses, net 9,661   5,753   34,218   26,328  
Income tax expense 12,764   9,439   56,643   60,719  
Depreciation and amortization 20,752   20,684   82,532   82,666  
EBITDA $60,383   $102,760   $364,301   $440,281