Kenvue reports first quarter 2024 results

SKILLMAN, N.J. May 7, 2024 – Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) (“Kenvue”), today announced financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

“We entered 2024 with clear strategic priorities to reach more consumers, reinvent our ways of working to invest more behind our brands, and to foster a culture that rewards performance and impact,” said Thibaut Mongon, Chief Executive Officer. “We began executing against these priorities during the quarter, enabling a solid start to the year and advancing Kenvue forward in our ambition to become the undisputed leader in consumer health.”

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Sales and Organic Growth

First quarter Net sales increased 1.1% on top of a 7.3% increase in the prior year period. Organic growth¹ was 1.9% on top of 11.2% Organic growth in the prior year period. Increases in Net sales and Organic growth were primarily driven by sustained momentum in Self Care on strong consumer demand and growth in Essential Health led by Oral Care, partially offset by underperformance in Skin Health and Beauty.

Net sales and Organic growth were comprised of +5.0% value realization and (3.1%) volume.

Approximately two points of the volume contraction was attributed to the expected lapping of one-time retailer inventory re-builds in the first quarter of 2023 and impacts of retailer inventory reduction in the first quarter of 2024, which the Company expects to continue through the second quarter of 2024.

Gross Profit Margin and Operating Income Margin

First quarter Gross profit margin was 57.6% vs 55.2% in the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit margin¹ was 60.2% vs 57.3% in the prior year period. Gross profit margin expansion of 240 basis points and Adjusted gross profit margin expansion of 290 basis points were primarily driven by value realization, continued global supply chain efficiency initiatives, and easing net input cost inflation.

First quarter Operating income margin was 14.1% vs 16.6% in the prior year period. Operating income margin decrease vs the prior year period was primarily driven by a $68 million impairment charge related to the Company’s interim headquarters as well as expenses related to the Company’s restructuring and optimization initiatives.

First quarter Adjusted operating income margin¹ was 22.0% vs 21.3% in the prior year period as robust Adjusted gross profit margin expansion was partially offset by increased brand investment and the absorption of public company costs that were not incurred in the prior year period.

Interest expense, net and Taxes

First quarter Interest expense, net was $95 million.

The first quarter Effective tax rate was 30.7% vs 23.0% in the prior year period. The Adjusted effective tax rate¹ was 28.3% vs 20.4% in the prior year period. The increase in reported Effective tax rate and Adjusted effective tax rate was primarily the result of jurisdictional mix of earnings, prior year release of tax reserves due to statute of limitations expiring and negative impacts of stock-based compensation in the current period. In addition, the reported Effective tax rate was further increased by a reduction in foreign tax credit benefits when compared to the prior period.

Net income per share (“Earnings per share”)

First quarter Diluted earnings per share was $0.15. Adjusted diluted earnings per share¹ was $0.28.

Our Vue Forward

In 2023, Kenvue entered into a transition service agreement (“TSA”) with Johnson & Johnson to provide certain services to the Company for varying durations. As part of the Company’s continued transformation to a fit-for-purpose consumer company focused on growth, in Q1 2024, management began to enact strategic initiatives intended to enhance organizational efficiencies and better position Kenvue for future growth (“Our Vue Forward”). To further these strategic initiatives, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an initiative on May 6, 2024, which anticipates a net reduction of its current global workforce of approximately 4% and ongoing annualized pre-tax gross cost savings of approximately $350 million that will be fully realized in 2026, of which a portion will be reinvested back into the Company’s brands to fuel growth. To achieve these savings, the Company expects to incur approximately $275 million of pre-tax restructuring costs in each of fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025.²

“As we exit services under the TSA, these initiatives will structurally position Kenvue for success in the future and create long-term shareholder value,” said Paul Ruh, Chief Financial Officer. “These initiatives will enable Kenvue to adjust its cost structure and ways of working to become more competitive while bolstering our ability to deliver on our long-term algorithm of profitable growth, robust durable cash flow generation, and disciplined capital allocation.”

2024 Outlook

Based on current spot rates, Kenvue reaffirmed its outlook for 2024 as follows:

Net sales and Organic growth

Kenvue expects full year 2024 reported Net sales growth to be in the range of 1.0% to 3.0%. Foreign exchange is expected to be a headwind of approximately one percentage point to reported Net sales growth. The Company continues to expect full year 2024 Organic growth in the range of 2.0% to 4.0%.

Adjusted operating income margin and Adjusted diluted earnings per share

Kenvue continues to expect full year 2024 Adjusted operating income margin to be slightly below 2023 as strong gross margin progression is offset by the impact of absorbing a full year of public company costs and approximately 50 basis points of foreign currency headwinds.

Kenvue continues to expect full year 2024 Adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.10 - $1.20.

This range assumes a full year 2024 diluted weighted average share count of 1.92 billion.

Reported Interest expense, net

For full year 2024, Kenvue continues to expect reported Interest expense, net to be approximately $400 million.

Reported and Adjusted effective tax rate

For full year 2024, Kenvue continues to expect an Effective tax rate between 26.5% to 27.5%, and an Adjusted effective tax rate between 25.5% to 26.5%.

Kenvue is not able to provide the most directly comparable GAAP measures or reconcile Adjusted diluted earnings per share, Adjusted operating income margin, or Organic growth to comparable GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable efforts given the unpredictability of the timing and amounts of discrete items such as foreign exchange, acquisitions, or divestitures.

Webcast Information

As previously announced, Kenvue will host a conference call with investors to discuss its first quarter results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-672-2415 from the United States or +1 646-307-1952 from international locations. The conference ID for all callers is 14840. A simultaneous webcast of the call for investors and other interested parties may be accessed by visiting the Investors section of the Company’s website. A replay will be available after the live event.

About Kenvue

Kenvue is the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. Built on more than a century of heritage, our iconic brands, including Aveeno^®, BAND-AID^® Brand, Johnson’s^®, Listerine^®, Neutrogena^®, and Tylenol^®, are science-backed and recommended by healthcare professionals around the world. At Kenvue, we believe in the extraordinary power of everyday care and our teams work every day to put that power in consumers’ hands and earn a place in their hearts and homes. Learn more at www.kenvue.com.

¹Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented herein. These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP nor do they have any standardized meaning under U.S. GAAP. In addition, other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way the Company calculates such measures. Accordingly, the non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to such similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures, but instead to consider them with the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplements to, not substitutes for, or superior to, the corresponding financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company believes the presentation of these measures is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. The Company believes these measures help improve investors’ ability to understand the Company’s operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company’s results with other companies. In addition, the Company believes these measures are also among the primary measures used externally by the Company’s investors, analysts, and peers in its industry for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of the Company to other companies in our industry.

Below are definitions and the reconciliation to the most closely related GAAP measures for the non-GAAP measures used in this press release and the related prepared materials and webcast.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share: We define Adjusted diluted earnings per share as Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding. Management views this non-GAAP measure as useful to investors as it provides a supplemental measure of the Company’s performance over time.

Adjusted EBITDA margin: We define the non-GAAP measure EBITDA as U.S. GAAP Net income adjusted for interest, provision for taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA, another non-GAAP financial measure, as EBITDA adjusted for restructuring and operating model optimization initiatives, costs incurred in connection with our establishment as a standalone public company (“Separation-related costs”), conversion of stock-based awards, stock-based awards granted to individuals employed by Kenvue as of October 2, 2023 (“Founder Shares”), impairment of fixed assets, the impact of the deferred transfer of certain assets and liabilities from Johnson & Johnson in certain jurisdictions (the “Deferred Markets”), and losses on investments. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin, as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental perspective to the Company’s operating efficiency over time.

Adjusted effective tax rate: We define Adjusted effective tax rate as U.S. GAAP Effective tax rate adjusted for the tax effects of amortization, restructuring and operating model optimization initiatives, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, impairment of fixed assets, and losses on investments (i.e. special items) and taxes related to the Deferred Markets. We also exclude certain one-time tax only adjustments which include the removal of tax effects from the carve-out methodology, and the impact of the interest expense from the debt issuance, which reduced the Company’s capacity to utilize foreign tax credits against U.S. foreign source income. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental measure of the Company’s performance over time.

Adjusted gross profit margin: We define Adjusted gross profit margin as U.S. GAAP Gross profit margin adjusted for amortization, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, and operating model optimization initiatives. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental perspective to the Company’s operating efficiency over time.

Adjusted net income: We define Adjusted net income as U.S. GAAP Net income adjusted for amortization, restructuring and operating model optimization initiatives, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, impairment of fixed assets, the impact of the Deferred Markets, losses on investments, and their related tax impacts (i.e. special items). Adjusted net income excludes the impact of items that may obscure trends in our underlying performance. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as the Company uses Adjusted net income for strategic decision making, forecasting future results, and evaluating current performance.

Adjusted operating income: We define Adjusted operating income as U.S. GAAP Operating income adjusted for amortization, restructuring and operating model optimization initiatives, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, impairment of fixed assets, and the impact of the Deferred Markets. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as management uses Adjusted operating income to assess the Company’s financial performance.

Adjusted operating income margin: We define Adjusted operating income margin as Adjusted operating income as a percentage of Net sales. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental perspective to the Company’s operating efficiency over time.

Free cash flow: We define Free cash flow as U.S. GAAP Net cash flows from operating activities adjusted for Purchases of property, plant, and equipment. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a view of the Company’s liquidity after deducting capital expenditures, which are considered a necessary component of our ongoing operations.

Organic growth: We define Organic growth as the period-over-period change in U.S. GAAP Net sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the impact of acquisitions and divestitures. Management believes Organic growth provides investors with additional, supplemental information that is useful in assessing the Company’s results of operations by excluding the impact of certain items that we believe do not directly reflect our underlying operations.

The non-GAAP measures as presented herein have been prepared as if our operations had been conducted independently from Johnson & Johnson prior to May 4, 2023, the date Kenvue’s common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and therefore they include certain Johnson & Johnson corporate and shared costs allocated to us. Management believes the cost allocations are a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided to, or the benefit derived by, us during the periods presented, though the allocations may not be indicative of the actual costs that would have been incurred if we had been operating as a standalone company.

²The Company’s estimates of the costs of the initiative and the expected benefits are preliminary estimates and are subject to a number of assumptions, including local law requirements in various jurisdictions. Actual charges may differ, possibly materially, from the estimates provided above.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, statements about management’s expectations of Kenvue’s future operating and financial performance, product development, market position and business strategy. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and other words of similar meaning. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Kenvue and its affiliates. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the inability to execute on Kenvue’s business development strategy; economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the ability to successfully manage local, regional or global economic volatility, including reduced market growth rates, and to generate sufficient income and cash flow to allow Kenvue to effect any expected share repurchases and dividend payments; Kenvue’s ability to access capital markets and maintain satisfactory credit ratings, which could adversely affect its liquidity, capital position and borrowing costs; competition, including technological advances, new products and intellectual property attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product research and development; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products and digital capabilities; challenges to intellectual property protections including counterfeiting; the ability of Kenvue to successfully execute strategic plans, including Our Vue Forward and other restructuring initiatives; the impact of business combinations and divestitures, including any ongoing or future transactions; manufacturing difficulties or delays, internally or within the supply chain; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; significant adverse litigation or government action, including related to product liability claims; changes to applicable laws and regulations and other requirements imposed by stakeholders; changes in behavior and spending patterns of consumers; natural disasters, acts of war (including the Russia-Ukraine War and recent conflicts in the Middle East) or terrorism, catastrophes, or epidemics, pandemics, or other disease outbreaks; financial instability of international economies and legal systems and sovereign risk; the inability to realize the benefits of the separation from Kenvue’s former parent, Johnson & Johnson; and the risk of disruption or unanticipated costs in connection with the separation. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Kenvue’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, available at www.kenvue.com or on request from Kenvue. Any forward-looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. Kenvue undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor relations:
Tina Romani
Kenvue_IR@kenvue.com

Media relations:
Melissa Witt
media@kenvue.com

Kenvue Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(Unaudited; Millions Except Per Share Data)

Non-GAAP Financial Information
Organic Growth

The following tables present a reconciliation of the change in Net sales, as reported, to Organic growth for the periods presented:

⁽¹⁾ Acquisitions and divestitures did not materially impact the reported Net sales change.
⁽²⁾ Non-GAAP financial measure. Excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange and the impact of Acquisitions and divestitures.
⁽³⁾ Price/Mix reflects value realization.

Organic Growth by Segment

Self Care:

• Organic growth of 4.2% was comprised of 5.6% value realization partially offset by (1.4)% volume. Winning in-store presence and prominence, category leading consumer and healthcare professional engagement, and science backed innovation drove broad-based strength across the portfolio.

Skin Health and Beauty:

• Organic growth decreased (4.5)%, comprised of 2.4% value realization offset by (6.9)% volume. In line with the Company’s expectations, underperformance in commercial U.S. in-store execution, more than offset strength across the Skin Health and Beauty outside the U.S.

Essential Health:

• Organic growth of 4.9% was comprised of 6.8% value realization, partially offset by (1.9)% volume. Strength in Essential Health was led by global growth in Oral Care as continued momentum in healthcare professional endorsements and innovation fueled growth.

Total Segment Net Sales and Adjusted Operating Income
Segment Net sales and Adjusted operating income for the periods presented were as follows:

⁽¹⁾ Includes the provision for taxes and minority interest expense related to Deferred Markets recognized within Other operating expense (income), net, which are payable to Johnson & Johnson through interim agreements until these Deferred Markets can be transferred to the Company. Deferred Markets are local businesses in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the transfer from Johnson & Johnson of certain assets and liabilities were deferred in order to ensure compliance with applicable law, to obtain necessary governmental approvals and other consents, and for other business reasons.

⁽²⁾ Costs incurred in connection with our establishment as a standalone public company are defined as “Separation-related costs.”

The following tables present reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP for the periods presented:

The following tables present reconciliations of the Effective tax rate, as reported, to Adjusted effective tax rate for the periods presented:

The following table presents a reconciliation of Effective tax rate, as forecasted on a U.S. GAAP basis, to forecasted Adjusted effective tax rate for fiscal year 2024:

The following table presents a reconciliation of Diluted earnings per share, as reported, to Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the periods presented:

The following table presents a reconciliation of Net cash flows from operating activities, as reported, and Purchases of property, plant, and equipment, as reported, to Free cash flow for the periods presented:

Other Supplemental Financial Information

The following table presents the Company’s Net sales by Geographic Region for the periods presented:

The following table presents the Company’s Research and development expenses for the periods presented. Research and development expenses are included within Selling, general, and administrative expenses.

The following table presents the Company’s Cash and cash equivalents, Total debt and Net debt balance as of the periods presented: