Allegion Q4 report shows a return to trends

DUBLIN – Allegion, a global security products and solutions provider, have reported on the financial results for its fourth quarter (Q4) (ended Dec. 31, 2023).

The company reported fourth-quarter 2023 net revenues of $897.4 million and net earnings of $118.6 million, or $1.34 per share. Adjusted net earnings were $148.5 million, or $1.68 per share, down 0.6%, excluding charges related to restructuring, acquisition and integration costs and other non-cash impairment charges, as well as amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets.

Fourth-quarter 2023 net revenues increased 4.2%. Net revenues increased 2.6% on an organic basis, excluding impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency movements. Solid growth in the company’s non-residential Americas business was partially offset by declines in its residential and Allegion International businesses. The reported revenue reflects a modest positive impact from foreign currency and acquisitions the company said in its official release.

Fourth-quarter 2023 operating income was $159.7 million, an increase of $0.3 million or 0.2%. Adjusted operating income in fourth-quarter 2023 was $197.2 million, an increase of $18.5 million or 10.4%.

Fourth-quarter 2023 operating margin was 17.8%, compared with 18.5%. The adjusted operating margin in fourth-quarter 2023 was 22.0%, compared with 20.7%. The 130-basis-point increase in adjusted operating margin is attributable to positive price and productivity net of inflation and investments. These increases were partially offset by lower volumes.

“Allegion’s fourth quarter reflected strong execution, margin expansion and cash generation by our team,” said President and CEO John H. Stone. “Celebrating our 10th anniversary as a standalone company in December, we are proud to have closed the year with record revenue, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS.”

He continued, “As we look ahead to 2024, we are focused on consistent execution of our strategy and balanced capital deployment, against what we expect to be a stable market backdrop. Committed to our vision of enabling seamless access and a safer world, we’ll deliver yet another year of growth.”

For 2023, Allegion reported full-year net revenues of $3,650.8 million and net earnings of $540.4 million, or $6.12 per share. Adjusted net earnings were $614.9 million, or $6.96 per share, up 16.2%, excluding charges related to restructuring, acquisition and integration costs and other non-cash impairment charges, as well as amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets.

Full-year 2023 net revenues increased 11.6%. Net revenues increased 5.2% on an organic basis, excluding impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency movements. Favorable price was more than offset by lower volumes experienced in the mechanical portfolio. The company had approximately 20% global organic growth in electronics and software solutions in the year. Again, the company stated that reported revenue reflects a positive impact from foreign currency and acquisitions.

For its 2024 outlook, the company expects full-year revenues to increase 1.5% to 3.5% on a reported basis and increase 1% to 3% organically, when compared to 2023, after excluding the expected impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency movements.

Full-year 2024 reported EPS is expected to be in the range of $6.45 to $6.60, or $7.00 to $7.15 on an adjusted basis. The outlook assumes a headwind of approximately $0.37 based on a full-year adjusted effective tax rate of 18% to 19%, inclusive of the estimated impacts of global minimum tax.

In a Q&A discussion with investors, Allegion confirmed that 2023’s Q1 was notable for being unusual because of the amount of backlog burn seen in the quarter due to macroeconomic effects on the industry. Allegion CFO Mike Wagnes said for 2024 to expect a return to the seasonality experienced in earlier years when it comes to Q1 expectations.

You can find the full webcast online at investor.allegion.com.