Ferguson plc(FERG) - 2022 Q4 - Annual Report

Financial Performance - Fourth quarter net sales reached $7,971 million, a 21.4% increase year-over-year, with organic growth contributing 19.5% and acquisitions adding 2.1%[8] - Full year net sales totaled $28,566 million, reflecting a 25.3% growth, driven by 23.5% organic growth and 1.8% from acquisitions[13] - Operating profit for the fourth quarter was $814 million, up 23.1% from the previous year, while adjusted operating profit increased by 21.5% to $849 million[10] - The full year operating profit was reported at $2,820 million, a 44.6% increase, with adjusted operating profit rising 41.1% to $2,951 million[14] - Organic revenue growth for Q4 2022 was reported at 21.4%, while the organic revenue growth for the full year was 19.5%[44] - Net sales for the twelve months ended July 31, 2022, reached $28,566 million, up 25% from $22,792 million in the previous year[57] - Gross profit for the twelve months ended July 31, 2022, was $8,756 million, representing a 25% increase from $6,980 million year-over-year[57] - Operating profit for the three months ended July 31, 2022, was $814 million, a 23% increase from $661 million in the same period last year[57] Acquisitions and Investments - The company completed seven acquisitions in the fourth quarter, contributing annualized revenues of approximately $470 million[3] - The company incurred $650 million in cash outflows for business acquisitions during the twelve months ended July 31, 2022[65] Shareholder Returns - A total of $1.5 billion was executed in share repurchases as part of a $2.0 billion program, which has been extended by an additional $0.5 billion[5][23] - The final dividend was increased by 15% to $1.91 per share, bringing the total annual dividend to $2.75 per share, also a 15% increase[4][24] - The company declared a final dividend of $1.91 per share, with the payment date set for December 8, 2022[32] Debt and Financial Health - The balance sheet remains strong with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.0x, at the lower end of the target range of 1-2x[6] - The company’s net debt as of July 31, 2022, was $3,194 million, significantly higher than $1,192 million in July 31, 2021[50] - The net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio stood at 1.0x for July 31, 2022, compared to 0.5x for the previous year, indicating increased leverage[50] - Ferguson plc's long-term debt increased to $3,679 million as of July 31, 2022, from $2,512 million in the previous year[50] - The company aims to maintain its net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio within one to two times, reflecting its commitment to investment-grade credit metrics[48] Economic Factors and Guidance - Inflation for the fourth quarter was approximately 20%, impacting gross margins which were reported at 30.5%, down 90 basis points from the previous year[8][9] - FY2023 guidance includes net sales growth in low single digits and an adjusted operating margin forecast of 9.3% to 9.9%[6] - Forward-looking statements indicate potential risks including supply chain challenges and economic uncertainties that could impact future performance[35] Income and Earnings - Ferguson plc reported a net income of $580 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, compared to $674 million for the same period in 2021[45] - Net income for the three months ended July 31, 2022, was $580 million, a decrease of 14% from $674 million in the same period last year[52] - Adjusted net income increased to $608 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022, compared to $529 million in the prior year, reflecting a 15% growth[52] - The company reported a basic earnings per share of $2.86 for the three months ended July 31, 2022, compared to $2.38 in the prior year, marking a 20% increase[57] Assets and Cash Flow - Total assets as of July 31, 2022, were $15,661 million, up from $13,709 million in the previous year, indicating a growth of 14%[60] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $771 million as of July 31, 2022, from $1,335 million in the prior year[60] - Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations was $1,149 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 2022, down from $1,337 million in the previous year[65] - The adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended July 31, 2022, was $3,153 million, compared to $2,259 million in the prior year[45]