Fortune Brands Reports Strong Sales, Profit and EPS Growth in 4Q and Full Year 2021; Company Initiates 2022 Annual Outlook Reflecting Continued Market Outperformance and Margin Expansion

Highlights from operations:

• 4Q and Full-Year 2021 sales increased 18 percent and 26 percent year-over-year, respectively, to $2.0 billion and $7.7 billion
• 4Q and Full-Year 2021 EPS increased to $1.28 and $5.54; EPS before charges / gains increased 6 percent and 37 percent year-over-year, respectively, to $1.32 and $5.73
• Company introduces 2022 financial guidance, driven by a positive long-term outlook for housing, enhanced growth initiatives and further margin expansion

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS, the “Company”, or “Fortune Brands”), an industry-leading home and security products company, today announced fourth quarter and full-year 2021 results.

“Our teams’ ability to execute, in any environment, enabled us to deliver strong results for our leading brands, channel partners and consumers. To produce these results during a challenging operating backdrop is extraordinary,” said Nicholas Fink, chief executive officer, Fortune Brands. “Demand remains robust across our portfolio, and we expect housing market strength to persist in 2022 and beyond. In 2021, we made tremendous progress towards our strategic objectives, including further development of our core Fortune Brands Advantage capabilities, to generate incremental investment dollars and accelerate our margin progression. We continue to create value across the portfolio and are positioned to continue to outperform as we further invest in our brands, innovation, digital capabilities and people. I am very excited for the future of the Company and all the good that we can create as we work toward our purpose – Fulfilling Dreams of Home.”

Fourth Quarter 2021

For the fourth quarter of 2021, sales were $2.0 billion, an increase of 18 percent over the fourth quarter of 2020. Earnings per share were $1.28, compared to $1.16 in the prior-year quarter, an increase of 10 percent. EPS before charges / gains were $1.32, compared to $1.25 the same quarter last year, an increase of 6 percent. Operating income was $260.5 million, compared to $233.2 million in the prior-year quarter, an increase of 12 percent. Operating income before charges / gains was $263.7 million, compared to $246.4 million the same quarter last year, up 7 percent. Operating margin was 13.3 percent, compared to 14.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020. Operating margin before charges / gains was 13.4 percent, compared to 14.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020.

For each segment in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the prior-year quarter:

• Plumbing sales increased 10 percent, or 9 percent excluding FX, led by U.S. wholesale and the House of Rohl. Operating margin before charges / gains was 20.8 percent.

• Outdoors & Security sales increased 40 percent, or 17 percent organically, driven by the addition of LARSON and double-digit sales growth in decking, doors and security. Operating margin before charges / gains was 15.9 percent.

• Cabinet sales increased 14 percent, driven by growth across products at all price points. Operating margin before charges / gains was 8.9 percent.

Full Year 2021

For the full year 2021, sales were $7.7 billion, an increase of approximately 26 percent over 2020. Earnings per share were $5.54 compared to $3.94 in the prior year, an increase of 41 percent. EPS before charges / gains were $5.73 versus $4.19 last year, an increase of 37 percent. Operating income was $1.1 billion, compared to $801.4 million in the prior year, an increase of 36 percent. Operating income before charges / gains was $1.1 billion, compared to $857.1 million during the previous year, up 30 percent. Operating margin was 14.2 percent, compared to 13.2 percent in 2020. Operating margin before charges / gains was 14.6 percent, up 50 basis points over full year 2020.

“Our teams’ performance was exemplary in 2021,” stated Patrick Hallinan, chief financial officer, Fortune Brands. “In spite of significant cost inflation, and labor and supply chain challenges, we produced 50 basis points of operating margin improvement. Further, we invested an incremental $85 million in brands, innovation and capabilities during the year. As we start 2022, we face headwinds similar to those present in 2021. However, we are confident we will overcome these headwinds and expect to outgrow the market and expand our margins. Our 2022 financial guidance reflects a continued strong market backdrop, share gains and continued margin progression. Our guidance also reflects attractive growth investments, which prioritize projects providing sustainable growth with accretive returns. We are optimistic about the year ahead and will remain agile in responding to any short-term headwinds that may materialize.”

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

At the end of the year, net debt was $2.2 billion and net debt to EBITDA was 1.7x. The Company had $472 million in cash and $730 million of availability under its revolving credit facility.

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased approximately $178 million in common stock and for the full year, repurchased approximately $448 million in common stock.

Annual Outlook for 2022

The Company expects to continue outperforming a fundamentally strong housing market. The Company expects full-year 2022 sales growth in the range of 5.5 percent to 7.5 percent based on the Company’s assumption of a total global market expanding by 3 percent to 5 percent, including growth in the U.S. home products market of approximately 4 percent to 6 percent.

The Company expects EPS before charges / gains to be in the range of $6.35 to $6.55.

For 2022, the Company expects to generate free cash flow of approximately $615 to $700 million.

“We expect the long-term expansion of housing to continue,” said Fink. “Demographic forces continue to support housing formation and growth, which will drive both single-family new construction and repair and remodel investment for a number of years. Existing housing stock is low and is aged, and homeowner equity is trillions of dollars higher compared to a year ago. Consumers are increasingly turning to products built with innovation, sustainability and purpose. Our portfolio of leading brands is squarely aligned with these trends, and we will continue to drive initiatives to fulfill our purpose.”

About Fortune Brands

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), headquartered in Deerfield, IL., is a Fortune 500 company, part of the S&P 500 Index and a leader in the home products industry. With trusted brands and market leadership positions in each of its three operating segments, Plumbing, Outdoors & Security, and Cabinets, Fortune Brands’ 27,500 associates work with a purpose to fulfill the dreams of home.

The Company’s growing portfolio of complementary businesses and innovative brands include Moen and the House of Rohl within the Global Plumbing Group; outdoor living and security products from Therma-Tru, LARSON, Fiberon, Master Lock and SentrySafe; and MasterBrand Cabinets’ wide-ranging offerings from MANTRA, Diamond, Omega and many more. Visit www.FBHS.com to learn more about FBHS, its brands and how the Company is accelerating its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding general business strategies, market potential, anticipated future financial performance, the potential of our brands and the housing market, and other matters. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes”, “positioned”, “expects”, “estimates”, “plans”, “look to”, “outlook”, “intend”, and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “should”, “would”, “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of our management. Although we believe that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those indicated in such statements, including but not limited to general business and economic conditions; our reliance on the North American repair and remodel and new home construction activity levels; our reliance on key customers and suppliers; our ability to maintain our strong brands and to develop innovative products while maintaining our competitive positions; our ability to improve organizational productivity and global supply chain efficiency; our ability to obtain raw materials and finished goods in a timely and cost-effective manner; the impact of sustained inflation, including global commodity and energy availability and price volatility; the impact of trade-related tariffs and risks with uncertain trade environments or changes in government and industry regulatory standards; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and other labor constraints; the uncertainties relating to the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business and results; our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of our strategic initiatives; our ability to successfully execute our acquisition strategy and integrate businesses that we have and may acquire; and the other factors discussed in our securities filings, including in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes measures not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), such as diluted earnings per share before charges / gains, operating income before charges / gains, organic sales, net sales excluding FX impact, operating margin before charges / gains, EBITDA before charges / gains, net debt, net debt to EBITDA before charges / gains, and free cash flow. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure derived in accordance with GAAP and may also be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most closely comparable GAAP measures, and reasons for the Company’s use of these measures, are presented in the attached pages.

Source: Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.